INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 21 (UPI) -- Three people face murder charges in the explosion of an Indianapolis home that killed two neighbors and destroyed or damaged scores of homes, prosecutors said.
Police on Friday arrested Monserrate Shirley; her boyfriend, Mark Leonard; and his brother Robert Leonard, The Indianapolis Star reported.
Audio engineer John "Dion" Longworth, 34, and his wife, Jennifer, 36, a teacher, were killed in the Nov. 10 explosion, which destroyed five homes and damaged more than 80 others.
Prosecutors said all three suspects face two counts of felony murder as well as one count each of conspiracy to commit arson, 12 counts of arson and 33 counts of arson. If convicted, they could be sentenced to death or life in prison without parole, the newspaper reported.
Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry said investigators determined the suspects opened or removed a fireplace gas valve in Shirley's home and then set a microwave timer to ignite the gas and set off the explosion.
Curry said the suspects intended to collect insurance on the house to pay off debts. He said Shirley had recently increased insurance coverage on the property to $300,000, and the explosion followed an unsuccessful attempt to blow up the house.
Curry said Robert Leonard removed photographs, financial documents and other items from the house and that Shirley's daughter was visiting a friend and the family's cat had been boarded at the time of the blast.
He said investigators were trying to determine whether anyone else was involved in the alleged conspiracy.
