(CBS4) LITTLETON, Colo. Police in Littleton Monday night arrested a teenage boy on suspicion of setting a garage fire earlier this summer that killed his sister.
Firefighters found the body of Jessica Meyer, 13, in the garage of her family's home after putting out a fire there on June 7.
After an investigation that lasted nearly 11 weeks, police and arson investigators said they believe James David Meyer Jr. is responsible for his sister's death. Investigators are recommending that he be charged with reckless manslaughter and first degree arson charges.
"Mr. and Mrs. Meyer (are) very cooperative," said Sgt. Sean Dugan from the Littleton Police Department. "They wanted to get to the root cause of their daughter's death too. They knew, at some point of the investigation, it wasn't accidental and so as a parent, you're struggling with the fact what caused my daughter's death."
Police determined the brother and sister were home together alone when they apparently had an argument that ended in Jessica's death. That's when police believe Meyer Jr. put her body in the garage and started it on fire.
Meyer Jr., 15, appeared in court Tuesday morning and was ordered to be held without bond. Formal charges were expected to be filed Friday morning.
CBS4 legal analyst Andrew Cohen said it's not uncommon for someone Meyer's age to be charged as an adult when the crime is as serious as this one was.
The family's home remains boarded up. Family members had not yet moved back into the house.
Firefighters found the body of Jessica Meyer, 13, in the garage of her family's home after putting out a fire there on June 7.
After an investigation that lasted nearly 11 weeks, police and arson investigators said they believe James David Meyer Jr. is responsible for his sister's death. Investigators are recommending that he be charged with reckless manslaughter and first degree arson charges.
"Mr. and Mrs. Meyer (are) very cooperative," said Sgt. Sean Dugan from the Littleton Police Department. "They wanted to get to the root cause of their daughter's death too. They knew, at some point of the investigation, it wasn't accidental and so as a parent, you're struggling with the fact what caused my daughter's death."
Police determined the brother and sister were home together alone when they apparently had an argument that ended in Jessica's death. That's when police believe Meyer Jr. put her body in the garage and started it on fire.
Meyer Jr., 15, appeared in court Tuesday morning and was ordered to be held without bond. Formal charges were expected to be filed Friday morning.
CBS4 legal analyst Andrew Cohen said it's not uncommon for someone Meyer's age to be charged as an adult when the crime is as serious as this one was.
The family's home remains boarded up. Family members had not yet moved back into the house.