JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 49-year-old man has been arrested and charged with murder after investigators determined a fatal house fire in Jacksonville’s Springfield neighborhood was intentionally set, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
District 1 Patrol officers responded just before midnight Friday to assist Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department crews battling a residential fire. After firefighters extinguished the blaze, officers discovered 62-year-old Willie Haywood Jr. deceased inside the home.
Detectives with the Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit and investigators from the State Fire Marshal’s Office launched a joint investigation into the cause of the fire. Authorities said interviews with multiple witnesses led investigators to conclude that Julius Lindo intentionally set the residence on fire while several people were inside.
Homicide detectives coordinated with District 1 Bike Unit officers to locate Lindo. After locating and interviewing him Sunday afternoon, detectives arrested him on charges of murder, arson, and eight counts of attempted murder, one count for each person reported to be inside the home at the time of the fire.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said the investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue efforts to seek justice for Haywood’s family.
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