TUCSON, Ariz. - U.S. Marshals arrested two Tucson fugitives wanted on murder charges in New York Friday.
According to the Marshals, the U.S. Marshals Task Force worked with the Monroe, New York County Sheriff's Department’s SWAT team and B Zone members to track down and arrest Blane Barksdale and Susan Barksdale in Henrietta, New York.
Both Barksdales were wanted on charges of first-degree murder, burglary, arson of an occupied structure and criminal damage.
The suspects will be extradited to Tucson.
According to the Tucson Police Department, the Barksdales burned down a man's home in Tucson last month in a fire that may have led to his death.
On April 16, Tucson Fire crews responded to a fire at the home of 72-year-old Frank Bligh near Escalante Road and Camino Seco just after 4 a.m. The fire resulted in multiple explosions at the home, believed to be from ammunition inside.
When Tucson Police officers arrived on scene, they noticed Bligh's car was missing. That same day, Bligh's brother called Tucson Police requesting a welfare check.
The next day, PCSD responded to a call of an abandoned vehicle in a remote area. Detectives later determined the car to be Bligh's, and found evidence in the car that led them to believe he was killed.
TPD detectives later discovered evidence that tied 30-year-old Brent Mallard to the arson. He was extradited from the Maricopa County Jail to Tucson.
