Blease’s next-door neighbor, 31-year-old Joshua Pizarro, was able to alert other neighbors about the fire but he was also injured. Pizarro and Matias were both placed on a ventilator and suffered sustaining lung from smoke inhalation.
“The defendant allegedly started a fire in a five-story building he lived in, not caring about the danger to dozens of his neighbors, District Attorney Darcel Clark said in a news release. The victims are still suffering terrible physical and emotional pain because of the defendant’s alleged barbaric actions.
In addition to arson, Blease was indicted on six counts of first-degree Assault, six counts of second-degree Assault, second and third-degree Criminal Mischief, first and second degree Reckless Endangerment and fourth-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon.