FANWOOD, NJ — A 70-year-old man has been arrested and charged with setting a fatal house fire that killed an 82-year-old woman in July, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel and Fanwood Chief Law Enforcement Officer Lieutenant Daniel Kranz announced Tuesday.
William Ahle, of Fanwood, was charged with first-degree murder, first-degree felony murder, first-degree burglary, and second-degree aggravated arson.
On July 25 at approximately 1:37 a.m., Fanwood Police and Fire units were dispatched to a residence on Kempshall Terrace in response to a 911 call reporting a house fire.
Fire personnel discovered Virginia Cranwell, 82, in the residence, who was pronounced deceased.
An investigation led to the identification of Ahle as the suspect.
Fire officials later determined the cause of the fire to be an intentional act.
The Union County Medical Examiner’s Office officially ruled the death a homicide.
On Tuesday, Ahle was taken into custody and is currently lodged at Middlesex County Jail pending his next court appearance.
The investigation was a collaborative effort led by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force and Special Prosecutions Unit/Arson Unit, Fanwood Police Department, Union County Police Department, Union County Sheriff’s Department/Crime Scene Unit, Union County Fire Investigation Task Force, New Jersey Division of Fire Safety – Fire Investigations/K-9 Unit, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and Explosives, Union County Office of Emergency Management, and Union County Emergency Response Team.
