Homicide

4th person faces murder, arson charges in Indianapolis house explosion that killed 2

Associated Press
Published | Updated

In this undated photo provided by Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department shows Gary Thompson. Thompson arrested Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015, and is the fourth person that been arrested in connection with an Indianapolis house explosion that killed two people and damaged dozens of homes. (AP Photo/Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department) (The Associated Press)

Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry (at podium) speaks on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2015, during a news conference in Indianapolis about charges filed against a fourth person in an Indianapolis house explosion that killed two people and damaged dozens of homes. Indianapolis Police Chief Rick Hite stands to Curry's right and city Homeland Security Director Gary Coons stands on Curry's left. Two counts of murder and dozens of arson charges were filed Thursday against 44-year-old Gary Thompson in the November 2012 natural gas explosion that killed a couple living next door. Prosecutors have said the explosion was a scheme to collect insurance money. (AP Photo/Rick Callahan) (The Associated Press)

Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry speaks on Jan. 29, 2015, during a news conference in Indianapolis about charges filed against a fourth person in an Indianapolis house explosion that killed two people and damaged dozens of homes. Two counts of murder and dozens of arson charges were filed Thursday against 44-year-old Gary Thompson in the November 2012 natural gas explosion that killed a couple living next door. Prosecutors have said the explosion was a scheme to collect insurance money. (AP Photo/Rick Callahan) (The Associated Press)

Prosecutors have charged a fourth person in an Indianapolis house explosion that killed two people and damaged dozens of homes.

Two counts of murder and dozens of arson charges were filed Thursday against 44-year-old Gary Thompson in the November 2012 natural gas blast that killed a couple living next door.

Thompson is scheduled to appear in court Friday for his initial hearing on the charges.

Court documents say Thompson was involved with tampering with the natural gas flow in the home of Monserrate Shirley and setting a timing device to ignite the gas.

Shirley is also charged in the blast, along with her former boyfriend, Mark Leonard, and his brother, Bob Leonard.

A judge is considering a plea deal in which Shirley would plead guilty to two counts of conspiracy.