LITTLETON, N.C. -- Two men have been arrested after a home invasion and house fire on Lake Gaston Friday that killed an elderly woman and hospitalized her husband.
Kevin Munn and Lester Kearney were arrested on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, and are being held in Warren County without bond.
Warren County District Attorney Mike Waters says they will likely face a charge of first-degree murder, with possible additional charges for burglary and arson.
Authorities believe two suspects targeted the home of Nancy and John Alford intending to rob it. The suspects forced Nancy to drive to a bank to withdraw money, then trapped the couple in their house while they set it on fire.
John Alford was able to escape the situation. He remains hospitalized at the UNC Burn Center; authorities only said he was "recovering" on Wednesday.
Waters says evidence found in the Alfords' car, which was found burned and abandoned in Haywood County, helped lead authorities to Munn and Kearney. Both of the men were arrested in traffic stops--Munn in Warren County and Kearney one county over in Roanoke Rapids.
"When they brought Mr. Kearney into custody, to be able to reach out to the Roanoke Rapids Police Department and have them execute a felony stop and bring him into custody as quickly as they did, that's the kind of cooperation and just one example of what we've seen over the last few days," said Waters.
Munn and Kearney are expected to appear in court to hear the charges next week.