Body Found In Brooklyn Park House Fire, Murder Suspected
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A Brooklyn Park man is in custody after police found the body of a woman in his burning home Saturday morning.
Officers were called to the 6200 block of 70th Ave. North just after 5 a.m.
They arrived and found the house on fire with smoke inside. Police called the fire department and they were able to put it out. However, inside the house they found a body of a dead woman.
"Didn't see anything or hear anything unusual at all. We didn't even hear about a fire, we didn't know there was a fire," said one neighbor who asked not to be identified by name.
Police arrested homeowner, 54-year-old Henry Hickman and say they are not looking for any other suspects. They won't say how Hickman was related to the victim inside, but neighbors believe she was his wife.
"It's pretty scary. It's close to home literally and you feel bad. They have two young kids and it's scary to think that ... I feel bad for them my heart goes out to them and their family," said the neighbor.
Police have been to Hickman's home eight times in the past two years for things ranging from terroristic threats to child neglect to theft and fraud. One neighbor called Hickman's home a problem house, but was shocked and saddened by the news.
Police are careful not to release too much information, but say this is an ongoing investigation with many more details to come.
"It's unfortunate, and I can't really get into the details about exactly what happened or the circumstances, cause we just don't know those details are yet. And that's part of the comprehensive investigation that our staff will go through over the next couple days. We hope to have a much clearer picture over the next couple days as to what exactly transpired," said inspector Todd Milburn of the Brooklyn Park Police Department.
Hickman was actually arrested at another location. He remains in custody at the Brooklyn Park Jail, and could be charged by Tuesday.
Police said they aren't looking for any other suspects.
