Man Held Without Bond In Deadly Lombard Arson
UPDATED: 7/25/2012 11:50 a.m.
WHEATON, Ill. (CBS) -- A 23-year old Villa Park man will remain in custody without bond for now, charged with setting a fire that killed his ex-girlfriend the day before her 25th birthday last weekend in Lombard.
As WBBM Newsradio's Bernie Tafoya reports, Todd Mandoline of Villa Park is charged with setting the fire that killed Paula Morgan, 24, in her mother's Lombard home early Sunday morning.
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Authorities say they found a car on fire and flames spreading to the house.
DuPage County State's Attorney Bob Berlin said Mandoline was at a birthday party for Morgan on Sunday. An argument between people attending the event broke out, and Mandoline was driven home. However, Mandoline walked two miles back to the house and began texting Morgan from outside, Berlin said.
Mandoline became angry and put a piece of paper in the gas tank of a car and set it on fire. The fire spread into the house, Berlin said.
Morgan's 6-year-old son was able to escape the fire, but firefighters had to rescue Morgan and her boyfriend from the upstairs of the home in the 1000 block of South Ahrens Avenue in Lombard.
Morgan later died. Police say the boyfriend remains hospitalized.
Mandoline is charged with first-degree murder He also faces two counts of aggravated arson, one count of arson and one count of misdemeanor criminal damage to property.
Records indicate Mandoline has had previous run-ins with the law. He has convictions for DUI, marijuana possession, and criminal damage to property.
