David J. Neal – The Bradenton Herald
The Friday predawn home fire that killed a Deerfield Beach woman and her dog struck investigators as suspicious from early on in the investigation. Sunday, an arson suspect was arrested in Manatee County and his address says this could’ve been a case of deadly domestic violence.
Genivaldo Gomes Moreira, 41, was arrested on a charge of murder, arson and cruelty to an animal. His address: 4329 NW Fourth Ave., Deerfield Beach.
That’s the address of the duplex in which 54-year-old Ana De Souza died Friday morning.
Broward Sheriff’s Office said Gomes drove out of the area in a gold 2002 Saturn. He was arrested in Manatee County Sunday and, as of Monday morning, awaited extradition to Broward County.
According to WSVN-Channel 7, neighbors said Gomes was De Souza’s boyfriend.
“A lot of the fire was on the exterior of the building too. So that, in itself, you know, raises some suspicion,” BSO Fire Battalion Chief Michael Kane told the Miami Herald Friday.
BSO said the duplex was “engulfed in flames” when firefighters answered the 4:34 a.m. call of a house fire.
The family living in the other unit of the duplex escaped unharmed, Kane said.
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