PHOENIX — 12News is continuing to learn more about the man suspected of starting a house fire that killed an 86-year-old woman in Phoenix on Thursday.
59-year-old Wayne Everett Tweed was taken into custody on Friday after an hours-long standoff with police in a neighborhood near 38th Drive and Rose Garden Lane.
On Saturday, his charges were announced.
Tweed is being charged with seven total counts, which include:
- 1 count of homicide
- 1 count of arson
- 1 count of kidnapping
- 1 count of assault
- 2 counts of drug offenses
He is accused of setting fire to a home near West Beardsley Road and 35th Avenue on Thursday afternoon. When firefighters got to the home, they saw flames and smoke coming from inside. As they worked to put the fire out, firefighters found an elderly woman, later identified as 86-year-old Elizabeth Bell inside, who they described as "beyond resuscitation."
Another person who was in the home at the time of the fire was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Tweed allegedly ran from the home after starting the fire.
He was identified as a person of interest on Thursday and then taken into custody on Friday.
Tweed is being held on a $2,000,000 cash-only bond.
Police have not said what the relationship between Tweed and the victims was, but did say Tweed was staying on Bell's property.
During Tweed's arraignment on Saturday afternoon, a state prosecutor did say that Tweed "poses a danger" to the surviving victim when requesting the cash-only bond.
The state also noted that Tweed has a lengthy criminal history dating back to the 1980s, including a manslaughter conviction.
Tweed's Department of Corrections record shows he has 10 convictions dating back to 1985, including manslaughter, aggravated assault, and third-degree burglary.
Tweed's next court date was set for November 16.
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