Chicago Man Charged in Deadly Arson

March 27, 2012

Authorities have charged a 38-year-old man with setting an apartment building fire in Chicago, Ill., that killed a resident.

The U.S. Attorney’s office said Thursday that Juan Adame had a domestic dispute with a woman who sometimes lived in one of the apartments on the city’s southwest side. She wasn’t there when the fire started.

If convicted on the federal arson charge, Adame could face the death penalty or life in prison.

Prosecutors say the Cicero man used gasoline to start the blaze in a rear apartment at 4:30 a.m. on Jan. 14.

A 60-year-old in a front apartment, James Maca, died from carbon monoxide intoxication and smoke inhalation.

Court documents didn’t include a defense attorney’s name. There’s also no phone listing for a Juan Adame in Cicero.