A Montana man has been charged with drugging and burning a 62-year-old amputee alive in a mobile home for allegedly making a comment about a teen girl.
James A. Hosey, 32, was arrested on Monday on one count each of homicide, arson, theft, and tampering with evidence in the death of Michael Lee Huston, Law&Crime reported.
The Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office said it was called, along with firefighters, at about 7 a.m. on Saturday. The firefighters extinguished the blaze and found Huston’s body inside.
“Evidence at the scene indicated that foul play was likely a factor in the death,” the sheriff’s office said. “Investigators were able to identify a person of interest, and put out a description of the vehicle that the individual was possibly driving. A Montana Highway Patrol Trooper located the vehicle and individual in Big Horn County, and took him into custody shortly after noon on Saturday.”
Court documents say a gas station attendant tipped off police to Hosey’s involvement in Huston’s death. She told investigators that Hosey, a regular customer at the station, had told her he tied someone up and set him on fire.
Hosey also allegedly called a friend in Michigan and admitted killing Huston over remarks the victim reportedly made about a 13-year-old girl.
“So I went over and got him high, on the brink of passing out, tied him up, beat his ass and poured gas in the house and set fire to him,” Hosey told the friend,the court documents say.
