A man was jailed Thursday on suspicion of murder and arson after a woman was found dead in a residential fire in northwestern Minnesota, authorities said.
The blaze broke out late Wednesday afternoon in a duplex in the 300 block of Arnold Avenue S. in Thief River Falls, according to the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA).
The woman's body was discovered in the upper level while Thief River Falls fire personnel were extinguishing the flames, the BCA said. Occupants in the lower level escaped unharmed.
The cause and manner of the woman's death haven't been disclosed, nor has the victim's identity.
A 23-year-old man who lives in the residence was booked into jail shortly before 4 a.m. Thursday. He has not been charged. The Star Tribune generally does not identify suspects before they are charged.
The man's criminal history in Minnesota includes convictions for offenses including possession of drug paraphernalia, underage drinking and driving, and — three times — driving after his license was revoked.
PAUL WALSH
