Man charged with murder for deadly fire at Milford homeless encampment
The fire at the homeless encampment behind the Lowe's store occurred on Aug. 15 and killed one of the encampment's residents, 57-year-old Joe Kane.
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Milford police have charged a homeless man with several felonies, including murder for a deadly fire at a homeless encampment last summer.
Matthew Kealey, 54, was arraigned Tuesday in Milford Superior Court on charges of arson murder, murder, felony murder, first-degree arson, home invasion, first-degree strangulation and first-degree assault on the elderly for a fire that killed Joe Kane, 57, a resident of the encampment. The incident also sent another man who lived there to the hospital with burns. Kealey has been in custody since December on a violation of probation charge as police continued to investigate.
A handful of Kane’s loved ones came to court for Kealey’s arraignment and got visibly emotional as the judge read off the charges.
The fire happened in the late morning of Aug. 15 at the encampment in the woods behind the Lowe’s store on Old Gate Lane. According to Kealey’s warrant, Kane had lived in one of the cabin’s there for eight years and around 11:38 a.m., called 911 to report Kealey was banging on his door looking for his alcohol.
“Matt is going [expletive] crazy…He thinks I have his booze, but it’s out there somewhere…He’s going [expletive] nuts,” the warrant noted.
Police were dispatched, but when they arrived, there was already smoke coming from the area.
Another resident corroborated what Kane said in the 911 call and told police said Kealey’s behavior escalated to multiple threats of violence and death including, “If I don't get my alcohol, I'm going to burn this place to the ground and kill you both,” per the warrant.
Shortly after, the witness heard glass break, and when he went outside his own cabin, he saw smoke and fire coming from Kane's, the warrant said. He told police Kealey was just standing there looking at the fire. The witness, who ended up injured, told police he grabbed two fire extinguishers and tried to put the flames out but couldn’t, the warrant said.
Once firefighters did, they found Kane dead inside his cabin. According to the warrant, he died from smoke inhalation and thermal injuries. But the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner also noted that Kane had been strangled, likely to the point of unconsciousness, before his death.
In court, Judge Augen Grogins set Kealey’s bond at $2 million, calling the allegations very serious and Kealey a public safety threat. He’s due back in court March 25.
PRIOR COVERAGE: Police: Homeless man dies in fire by homicide in Milford
Milford police were called to homeless encampment right before deadly fire there
