BLOOMINGTON — A 28-year-old man has been formally arrested and charged in connection with a horrific January house fire that claimed the lives of three people. Braydon Blake was taken into custody on Friday, April 10, following a multi-agency search that began after he was inadvertently released from a hospital.
Blake faces charges of murder and arson stemming from the January 18 incident in the 3800 block of East Anderson Road.
The tragedy began at approximately 2:40 a.m. on January 18, 2026. Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies arriving at the scene found a chaotic sight: a vehicle had been intentionally crashed into an attached garage, sparking a massive fire that quickly engulfed the residence.
While firefighters battled the blaze, deputies discovered Blake about an hour later, hiding in a wooded area on the property and suffering from significant burn injuries. Investigators believe Blake doused the home with fuel before setting it ablaze.
The fire took the lives of three women, two of whom were being cared for by the third.
The residence’s caretaker’s daughter, Kristine Rowan, 33, lived with cerebral palsy and was bedridden.
Mary Blake, 74, a resident of the home whom Paula, the caretaker, cared for.
Paula Anderson, 53, a certified nursing assistant, died on February 4 from burns covering 85% of her body.
Family members say Paula and her daughter, Gabby Anderson, suffered their life-altering injuries while heroically attempting to pull Kristine and Mary from the flames. Gabby, 18, survived but remains in recovery with burns over 30% of her body.
Following the fire, Blake was confined to Eskenazi Hospital in Indianapolis for several months due to the severity of his injuries. However, a major lapse in communication allowed the suspect to walk free for over a week.
On April 1, Blake was released from Eskenazi Hospital without notification to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
On April 9, Monroe County Sheriff’s Department Officers discovered Blake was no longer at the hospital and launched an immediate manhunt.
On April 10, U.S. Marshals and Indiana State Police located Blake in Avon, Indiana, where he was taken into custody and booked into the Monroe County Jail at 2:20 p.m.
Community members have raised over $32,000 via GoFundMe to support the surviving family members, specifically to assist with Gabby Anderson’s ongoing medical expenses and the funeral costs for Paula, Kristine, and Mary.