Jan 13, 2008 6:33 am US/Eastern
Officials Investigate Fire Where Inmate Was Found
Espinoza Apprehended In House After Escaping Union County Jail
By Jackie Hyland, CBS 2
ELIZABETH, N.J. (CBS) ―
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Jose Espinoza and Otis Blunt used an elaborate scheme to escape from the Union County jail on Dec. 15.
CBS
An accident or a fiery case of revenge? That's the question investigators are pondering Saturday after the same home where authorities found an escaped prisoner earlier this week went up in flames.
Summer Street in Elizabeth, New Jersey is usually quiet. But in just one week two major events have rocked the block.
"This is the first time I've ever seen anything like this happen," neighbor Louis Lorenzo told CBS 2.
On Tuesday, Jose Espinosa was captured in a basement apartment at 842 Summer Street, after successfully digging a hole in the wall and escaping from the Union County jail with his cellmate Otis Blunt. His 19-year-old girlfriend who lived in the apartment was also arrested for housing the escaped inmate. But the twist occurred early Saturday morning, just before 6 a.m., when a fire broke out in the very same location.
"From what I hear, someone broke in and started the fire," said SeeBee Dudath.
Dudath lives nearby. Saturday morning he watched arson investigators pick through the rubble. He shared his thoughts on what may have happened.
"Somebody in the building reported to police that the guy was hiding there. I think it was revenge on those who reported him."
Fire officials say all three people living in the house got out safely. They are now staying with family members.
Saturday evening, Espinosa and Blunt, who was caught in Mexico City and brought back to the states on Thursday, are once again behind bars.
Before escaping on December 14, Espinosa was behind bars awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to manslaughter in a 2005 drive-by shooting. Blunt was awaiting trial for robbery and weapons charges.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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