Three Charged With Arson in Statesville Fire

Three men have been charged with first-degree arson in connection with a house fire in Statesville that severely injured Miladis T. Bonilla-Alarcon on October 14. Oscar Humberto Bernal-Ardon, Rudy Ardon Santos, and Oscar Armando Larin, all from Statesville, were arrested on November 1 in Dallas, Texas, after an investigation revealed the fire was intentionally set. Bonilla-Alarcon's boyfriend, Elvin Ivan Ardon Santos, discovered the blaze and rescued her after breaking a bedroom window when the main entrance was blocked by flames. All three suspects have been extradited back to North Carolina, with Bernal-Ardon held on a $250,000 bond, Santos on a $100,000 bond, and Larin without bond. Each faces two counts of first-degree arson, and the investigation remains ongoing. The Statesville Police Department is seeking additional information from the public regarding the incident.