CHARGES FILED IN HOMELESS FIRE DEATH
March 14, 2001

Contact: Lynn Kimbrough, 720-913-9025

Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter, Jr. filed formal charges today in connection with the death of a man who died March 1, 2001 in a fire under the bridge at I-25 and Broadway. The victim is a 59-year-old man. His identity is still being withheld because family notification has not been completed.

Michael Doyle (DOB: 4-18-54) is charged with first degree felony murder (F1) and fourth degree arson (F4).

The charges allege that Doyle, an acquaintance of the victim, was involved in a verbal altercation with the victim the night before he died. Doyle is accused of returning to an area of 700 S. Broadway on the morning of March 1, 2001, and causing a fire where the victim was sleeping.

He is being held in the Denver County Jail without bond and will appear for advisement on the charges against him at 8:30 a.m., Friday, March 16, 2001 in Denver County

*The filing of a criminal charge is merely a formal accusation that an individual(s) committed a crime(s) under Colorado laws. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. See Colo. RPC 3.6