Arrest Made In House Fire That Killed 63-Year-Old Man

WAUKESHA, WI — The family and friends of Michael Huelse, the 63-year-old Waukesha man who died in a suspicious fire in late September, received some closure on his death after police say they've arrested the person responsible for killing Huelse and setting his house on fire. That man, identified as Amani Swanel Tobias Smith, 20, of Milwaukee, has been charged in court, authorities say.

According to the Waukesha Police Department, authorities conducted an exhaustive investigation, and identified Smith as the person responsible for the incident. With the help of U.S. Marshals, Smith was arrested on Monday, Nov. 25 in Milwaukee.

According to court documents, Smith has been charged with mutilating a corpse, arson and first-degree intentional homicide. If he is convicted, he faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.

"To say there was a lot of hard work and effort by all levels of this organization is an understatement. We live, work, and play in this great Waukesha community," Waukesha Police Captain Dan Baumann said in a statement Wednesday. "Our community came together to hold the defendant accountable."

Suspicious Fire Reported

On Thursday, Sept. 26, authorities were called to a home on the 600 block of S. University Drive at just after 5 a.m. on a report of heavy smoke coming from inside the building.

Authorities say that fire crews battled the fire from the inside of the home. They put out the fire and found a victim, later identified as Huelse, within eight minutes of arrival, authorities said. During the course of their investigation, authorities learned that Huelse's red 1969 Pontiac Firebird had been stolen prior to the fire. A person came forward a short time later, saying he found the Firebird in an alley in Milwaukee.

"Our hearts go out to the family for the loss of their family member. We are respecting their privacy and continue to be at their side in during this tragic event," authorities said that morning.

News of the fire and Huelse's death devastated his family.

"As a result of our father's passing, Tricia and her husband Ben will assume custody of our 12-year-old half-sister," Jen Huelse Salisbury wrote in a GoFundMe page. "Additionally, as Ben was employed by our father, he is not able to work until the complications of our father's passing are resolved and allow him to pull the business back together."

"We have already received so much love and support from family and friends. My sister Tricia's family could really use your support to help get their now larger family on track while we also sort through everything that must be done for my father in his passing," she wrote. "Thank you everyone from the bottom of my heart for your support for both of my sisters and our father's memory."