By Curtis Galbraith

RCMP

Two people dead after suspicious fire, suspect charged

Jan 8, 2021 | 2:32 PM

A Paddle Prairie man has been charged after two people died in a house fire.

High Level RCMP say police and the High Level Fire Department were called out just before 3:30 a.m. Tuesday.

A witness said two people were unaccounted for and information from witnesses led Mounties to believe the blaze was suspicious.

A 62-year-old man and a 47-year-old woman were found dead inside the home.

A suspect was arrested at a nearby residence and taken to hospital by air ambulance for treatment.

Forty-two-year-old Dallas Cardinal has been charged with two counts of criminal negligence causing death and one more of criminal negligence causing bodily harm.

Police say they had considered manslaughter charges, but decided criminal negligence causing death was the more appropriate charge based on the evidence.

Cardinal remains in hospital. He is set to appear before a High Level court Monday.