19-year-old in custody after fire causes $50,000 in damage at frat building

Police have a placed a suspect in custody in connection with a suspicious fire that burned an activity center for the Sigma Chi fraternity at Southeast Missouri State University early Friday morning.

The Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to the building at 1134 N. Sprigg St. at 4:07 a.m. to find smoke billowing from the metal structure.

No one had been in the building at the time, and no injuries were reported, though the fraternity had hosted a Halloween party that broke up around 3 a.m., according to Ann Hayes, director of the news bureau at Southeast.

The guest lists taken for the Halloween party were turned over to investigators, but they had no reason to believe the fire and the party were connected, said Douglas McDermott, faculty adviser for Sigma Chi.

The suspect, a 19-year-old man, is in custody at the Cape Girardeau jail pending filing of formal charges of second-degree arson and burglary.

Officers began talking to the suspect when they found him at the scene of the fire and considered him a person of interest after speaking with him.

He became a suspect after additional interviews, said Sgt. Barry Hovis, spokesman for the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

The fire caused about $50,000 worth of damage to the building, according to the Cape Girardeau Fire Department.

The building was used only for social and educational functions and chapter meetings, McDermott said.

"It's been a tough day for the members of the chapter," he said.

The fire department called in off-duty firefighters and assistance from Scott City and Jackson fire departments to help cover the city while they put out the blaze.

Firefighters are still investigating what caused the fire.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

335-6611 extension 245

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