WESLACO - Weslaco police have arrested a man in connection with a fatal house fire.
The blaze killed 46-year-old Melva Martinez and her 12-year-old son AJ on October 10. The Weslaco Fire Marshal's Office says it was arson.
Authorities arrested the suspect, 29-year-old Mario Salinas Jr., at his home in Mercedes. He was charged with two counts of capital murder, one count of attempted capital murder, and arson.
He said nothing in court during his arraignment. His bond was set at a total of $2.5 million.
The fire happened on the 1200 block of Valley View. Weslaco authorities initially told CHANNEL 5 NEWS it wasn't a case of arson. They won't elaborate on what changed the course of the investigation.
Investigators also aren't saying much about the suspect. But a source close to the investigation tells us he knew a member of the Martinez family.
Before she died in the fire, Martinez was able to save her 7-year-old son. She pushed him through a window to safety. CHANNEL 5 NEWS will have much more on this developing story at CHANNEL 5 NEWS AT 5 and CHANNEL 5 NEWS at 6.
