May 12, 2022

Suspected arson fire in Caldwell County takes life of 96-year-old

Posted May 12, 2022 4:06 PM

By BRENT MARTIN

St. Joseph Post

A suspected arson fire in Caldwell County has claimed the life of a 96-year-old woman.

The Caldwell County Sheriff’s Department identified the person found dead in a burned home near Polo as Lorene Fickess. The department considers the death a homicide.

The sheriff’s department is investigating three fires. The first occurred around 8:30 Tuesday morning in rural Polo. Investigators discovered the body of Fickess inside. Two hours later, firefighters responded to two other fires on the same road. Both those houses were vacant. Investigators believe all were related.

The sheriff reports witnesses spotted a dark, four-door, passenger car, possibly a black Dodge Caliber, near the scene of all three fires.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.