Houston police say firefighters responded to a house fire and explosion at 10511 Sagetree at around 1am on May 3. Upon extinguishing the fire, police say the badly burned body of 69-year-old Jeannie Waynette Wiebke was found inside the residence.
An autopsy by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences determined Wiebke had been beaten and strangled prior to the fire occurring.
Further investigation by the HFD Arson Division determined cause of the fire was not believed to be accidental and the explosion was caused by an oxygen bottle.
According to police, their investigation led to the identification of Brandon Ray Morgan as a suspect in this case. He is the boyfriend of Wiebke's caregiver.
Morgan, 37, was arrested without incident on July 20. Police say so far there is no known motive for the killing.
