SILVER SPRING, Md. -- Montgomery County police have made three arrests in the case of a woman found dead after a fire in her Silver Spring home.
The death of an 83-year-old woman found in a smoke-filled home Wednesday night was ruled a homicide by the medical examiner, police said. The death was attributed to blunt force trauma, burns and smoke inhalation.
At about 8 p.m. Wednesday, police officers went to a home in the 10500 block of Inwood Avenue to make a welfare check and noticed smoke coming from the home, according to police.
After calling for help, the officers found Lila Meizell unresponsive on the floor inside the home. They were able to pull the woman outside, but she could not be resuscitated.
Two police officers were taken to a hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. A firefighter was also treated for a laceration to his hand, police said. They were treated and released.
The fire was ruled arson. The fire marshal's office determined the fire was set with an ignitable liquid near where Meizell's body was found inside the residence, police said.
Police and fire marshals learned that 37-year-old Jose Alvarado, who had done yard work at the home, had tampered with pay checks from Meizell, increasing their value. He is accused of covering up the woman's murder by setting her home on fire.
Jose Alvarado was concerned that Meizell would learn about the check fraud, investigators said.
Alvarado and is charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and first-degree arson. His wife, Ana Rodas, 33, is charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and conspiracy to arson. His cousin, 32-year-old Ramon Alvarado, is charged with first-degree murder, first-degree arson and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.
