Body found in Columbus house fire leads to 3 arrests

Body found inside burning house determined to have been shot dead

9/16/2013

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Three men have been arrested on murder charges in connection with the body of a man found when firefighters were battling a house fire in central Ohio.

Columbus police say firefighters found the body of 56-year-old Rick Rundblad inside a house in the northeast side of Columbus after they received a report of a fire at the property early Monday morning. Police records show a preliminary investigation indicated that Rundblad had been shot to death.

The Columbus men in custody are 21-year-old John C. Brewster, 19-year-old Jamell C. Preston, and 18-year-old Marsean T. Sowards.

The Columbus Dispatch reports Columbus police Sgt. Steven Little said several marijuana plants were confiscated from the burned house.

Little said police are speculating the case was some a robbery “to rob (Rundblad) for the marijuana.”