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MENTONE -ÊThe fire that burned Frank and Jerry's grocery store to the ground Wednesday and killed one of its operators is being investigated as arson.
Indiana State Police Detective Jeremey Chapman said today that extensive damage was caused after an explosion rocked the building.
Firemen had trouble gaining entry because all doors were locked.
Officers found evidence of arson Wednesday afternoon as they combed through the rubble left behind by the 1:57 a.m. fire and explosion.
That the fire was deliberately set was obvious by arrangement of items in the store, police said.
The source of the explosion was not identified and the cause of the blaze was not officially determined.
Store operator Ismail Musleh, 35, of Mishawaka, was killed inside the store.
The results of an autopsy peformed on the victim are not yet available.
His nephew, Atta Musleh, 19, of Mentone, was injured, suffering burns over 95 percent of his body. Atta Musleh is in critical condition at St. Joseph Regional Burn Center, Fort Wayne. Officials said his injuries are life threatening.
Although the doors to the building were locked, at least a portion of a wall was blown out during the explosion, officials said.
The younger Musleh was found outside the store calling for his uncle.
Ismail Musleh was found buried under debris, Kosciusko County Deputy Coroner John Sadler said.
Atta Musleh reportedly told police the men were at the store cleaning.
A vehicle belonging to Atta Musleh was found following the explosion, parked about one block from the store. The vehicle's location leads police to believe the Muslehs were in the store willingly.
Officers have not yet sorted and catalogued the vehicle's contents.
State police, the Indiana fire marshal's office and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are conducting the investigation.
