GLIDDEN — At approximately 12:50 a.m. on May 11, the Columbus Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire at 1000 Old McDonald Road in Glidden.
The Colorado County Sheriff's Office and Columbus Police Department also responded to the location of the fire.
The Columbus Volunteer Fire Department arrived on the scene and quickly extinguished the fire, locating a de - ceased person, later identified as Ernesto Romero-Vital, 35, of Eagle Lake inside the residence.
The Columbus Volunteer Fire Department contacted the State Fire Marshall Office, requesting that Arson Investiga tors investigate the scene to determine the cause and nature of the fire.
The investigation conducted by the Arson Investigators revealed the fire was intentionally set.
Colorado County Precinct 1 Justice of Peace Billy Hefner, arrived at the location and ordered an autopsy to be performed by the Travis County Medi- cal Examiner's Office to determine the cause and manner of death.
The autopsy revealed the cause of death was homicide.
During the investigation, a suspect was developed, and on May 31, Paulino Valle Jr., 30, of Glidden was arrested for Murder and Arson.
The following agencies assisting the sheriff's Office with the investigation was Texas Department of Public Safety -Ranger Division, Texas State Fire Mar- shall's Office, Colorado County Consta ble, Pct. 1, and Columbus Police Department.
