Person of interest in deadly suspicious fire in custody

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — A person of interest in a suspicious house fire that killed a man is in police custody, according to the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety.

Detectives and officers found 32-year-old Melissa Sue Morgan in the 3800 block of Gull Road Friday and took her into custody, a Monday news release states.

Capt. Brad Misner with the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety tells 24 Hour News 8 that Morgan was arrested on outstanding warrants. She’s also a person of interest in the Feb. 3 fire that killed 31-year-old Zachariah John Hayes .

Authorities found his body inside a burned home in the 400 block of Wallace Avenue, north of East Michigan Avenue during the early morning hours of Feb. 3.

Firefighters called to the house fire quickly learned someone was possibly inside. However, crews had to fight the fire from outside because of hoarding issues and a collapsed roof.

Hayes, who was originally from the Iron Mountain area in the Upper Peninsula, moved to the Kalamazoo area several years ago to help his family with maintenance on their rental properties, investigators said. It’s unclear if he knew Morgan.

Anyone with additional information in this case is encouraged to contact Kalamazoo Public Safety at 269.488.8911 or Silent Observer at 269.343.2100.

More from WOODTV.com


View Full Site