Renter of Holly Springs Home Might Be Victim of Fatal Fire

A man who rented a burned home in Holly Springs where a body was found over the weekend might be the victim, police said Monday.

James Brewington was arrested Sunday and charged with first-degree murder. Investigators said Brewington frequently stayed at the home rented by James Baggett, who has not been seen or heard from since the blaze engulfed his home early Sunday morning.

“Based on the information we have available to us at this time, we believe Mr. Baggett may be the victim,” Holly Springs Police Chief John Herring said. “However, a positive identification has not been made by the Medical Examiner’s office."

Police said preliminary evidence was found that indicated the fire was intentionally set.  On Sunday morning, Holly Springs police received information that led them to seek an arrest warrant against Brewington, Herring said.

An autopsy was performed Monday at the state Medical Examiner’s Office in Chapel Hill to try to confirm the victim’s identity and cause of death. Investigators from the Wake County fire marshal’s office and the City-County Bureau of Investigation are assisting in the investigation of the fire’s cause.