Authorities investigate suspicious death of prominent Dallas lawyer

Authorities in Dallas asked the public for information about the suspicious death of a prominent lawyer and the burning of his home.

Ira Tobolowsky was found dead inside the garage of his burning North Dallas home on Friday. The fire has been labeled as suspicious by arson investigators but officials haven’t released details or identified any suspects in Tobolowsky’s death.

Steve Schottmer, Tobolowsky’s lawyer, told Fox 4 News that an accelerant was found inside the garage that shouldn’t have been there. Schottmer said his client wouldn’t have stored any type of chemicals into home because he was unable to do any kind of physical labor.

Arson investigators asked Schottmer if there was anyone that had litigation against Tobolowsky or if there was anyone who had been angry at him. Schottmer told investigators he did have someone in mind.

“The gentleman that I identified had brought a lawsuit against his mother who was the trustee of the family trust,” Schottmer told Fox 4 News.

Tobolowsky was involved in a long-running legal battle with the mother in the lawsuit. There was supposed to be a hearing in the case Wednesday.

Dallas Judge Eric Moye, who is hearing the case, had extra security placed at his home after hearing about what happened to Tobolowsky and extra bailiffs were placed at the courthouse.

Authorities told Moye to be on extra alert, Fox 4 News reported. Moye said he had someone following him on a Dallas highway.

A picture of his car was posted on Facebook with a message saying the driver of the car pulled a gun on her. Moye said he thought the driver was tailgating him and placed a gun on the passenger seat of his car.

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