By Emily Younker
eyounker@joplinglobe.com
ARCADIA, Kan. — Crawford County authorities are investigating a domestic dispute Sunday morning that left one person dead.
Sheriff Sandy Horton said the body of Justin Schmitz, 29, of Arcadia, who suffered a gunshot wound, was found in his home. He said he was confident that Schmitz started a fire in the home, but he declined to comment further on the death.
According to a news release from the sheriff’s office, Amber Schmitz, 31, called authorities at 3:09 a.m. Sunday and reported that she and her husband, Justin Schmitz, were arguing.
Amber Schmitz then called her mother, who came to pick her up. Amber Schmitz reported that as they were leaving, her husband shot at the vehicle with a rifle, striking it three times, according to the news release. Neither Amber Schmitz nor her mother was injured.
Later that morning, sheriff’s deputies were setting up a perimeter around the Schmitz house on East Williams Street when they noticed smoke coming from it. Norton said he did not know how much time had elapsed between Amber Schmitz’s departure and the first sight of smoke from the house.
After repeated, unsuccessful attempts to contact Justin Schmitz, deputies and firefighters entered the home and found the man’s body with a gunshot wound, according to the news release. His body has been taken to Topeka for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
The state fire marshal has been contacted to investigate the cause of the fire, according to the release. Horton said he believes the fire was started by Justin Schmitz, but he did not provide further details.
The incident, which Horton said lasted several hours, remains under investigation.
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