Man Arrested After Deadly Fire In Monroe County Claims Three Lives

A deadly fire in Monroe County has left three women dead. The incident has shaken the community, as an investigation is underway to determine what happened. Police have arrested Braydon Blake in connection with the fire in the 3800 block of East Anderson Road.

According to authorities, Blake allegedly set fire to the residence while his own family members were trapped inside.

The fire occurred on January 18 at around 2:39 a.m. Multiple 911 calls reported that people were unable to escape a structure fire. Monroe County sheriff’s deputies found that a car had crashed into the garage attached to the home. This caused flames to spread through the building.

Three women died, while one person initially managed to escape. The 18-year-old survivor suffered severe burns. Another victim, Paula Anderson, 53, initially survived but died weeks later from her injuries.

Fire crews worked to rescue anyone else inside. However, they discovered the body of Mary Blake, 74, who was reportedly a cancer patient. Kristine Rown, 33, who had cerebral palsy, also died in the fire.

Authorities conducted an extensive search for the person responsible. The Bloomington Police Department and Indiana State Police assisted sheriff’s deputies in the investigation.

Blake was located in a wooded area, where he had taken shelter on a property. When police found him, he was suffering from burn injuries. He was transported to IU Health Bloomington Hospital for emergency care and later moved to a hospital in Indianapolis.

However, on April 1, he was released from the hospital without permission from the Sheriff’s Office. Deputies, with the help of U.S. Marshals, tracked him down and arrested him in Avon.

He is currently being held without bond at the Monroe County Jail. Blake is facing charges of murder and arson. According to detectives, he may have committed the crimes over a prior r-pe allegation against him. The investigation continues.

Lindsey Personen, a relative of the victims, expressed her grief in a statement, saying the victims’ lives were “reduced to ashes.” She wrote, “The fire, set by a member of the older woman’s family, took the lives of his own grandmother and my 33-year-old niece.”