In the close-knit community of Fanwood, New Jersey, a man affectionately dubbed the “street mayor” gained local renown for his apparent heroism during a tragic house fire. This seemingly valiant act, however, has taken a dark and unexpected turn.

William Ahle, 70, once hailed as a good Samaritan, now stands accused of igniting the very blaze he was thought to be combating. The Union County Prosecutor’s Office has leveled serious charges against him, including first-degree murder, first-degree felony murder, first-degree burglary, and second-degree aggravated arson. Ahle was apprehended on Wednesday and is now being held at the Middlesex County Jail.

The incident in question occurred in the early hours of July 25, when a fire erupted at a residence on Kempshall Terrace in Fanwood. Despite the rapid response from local fire crews, the flames claimed the life of 82-year-old Virginia Cranwell, the occupant of the home. Initially, the investigation painted Ahle as a neighbor trying desperately to rescue Cranwell from the inferno. However, further scrutiny has led authorities to suspect him as the fire’s perpetrator.

This revelation has sent ripples of shock and disbelief through the community, where Ahle was once seen as a figure of trust and goodwill. As the legal proceedings unfold, residents are left grappling with this unsettling twist in a story that began with apparent heroism but has now spiraled into a narrative of alleged betrayal and crime.

The fire was investigated, and in the probe’s initial stages, it appeared that Cranwell’s next-door neighbor — Ahle — tried to come to her aid.

“He just looked, and he saw smoke and flames, and then he just went in,” Ahle’s son, Matthew Ahle, told NBC’s flagship station WNBC after the fire was put out. “He apparently opened the bedroom door and all the flames just bursted out, and then he fell backwards, and I guess that’s how he got all his burns.”

William Ahle was hospitalized with second-degree burns sustained in the fire.

“I’m happy he tried, he tried his best,” the younger Ahle added. “Like I said, I can’t imagine anyone else who would do that. So, he is the street mayor.”

However, as the investigation continued, fire officials “determined the cause of the fire to be an intentional act,” and Ahle was identified as the suspect. The Union County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Cranwell’s death a homicide.

Authorities have not revealed what evidence they compiled to form their conclusion nor have they suggested a suspected motive.

“Everybody knows who he is, and, you know, no one has ever had a bad word to say about him,” one neighbor told the New York City-based TV station.

“Since the fire, you know, I mean, we all just thought he was a hero,” said another community member. “I feel bad for the family. I do, ’cause I really like them.”

Cranwell will be remembered “for her extraordinary physical beauty — youthful, graceful, and effortlessly striking,” according to her obituary. “Virginia’s life was defined by how she made others feel — loved, safe, seen. Her spirit was gentle. Her laughter came easily. Her kindness was instinctive. She created joy in everyday moments-through play, through affection, through simple connection.”