Police were left with many questions when a house burned down on South Street in Butler last year, and after a nearly 10 month investigation, they’ve identified the suspects.
Butler State Police Trooper Ronald Kesten told our newsroom that 39-year-old Robert Wilhelm of Washington Township torched a house in the city of Butler back on May 29, 2017 at the behest of 50-year-old William Gold of Butler as part of a cover-up to a burglary they committed the day before.
Officials say Gold was renting the house on South Street and sublet it to two other men. Gold then enlisted the help of Wilhelm to steal a safe inside the home that belonged to the two other men.
Police say Gold then told Wilhelm to set the South Street house on fire after he feared the two men had cameras inside.
The explosion was enough that residents say it shook their homes. Wilhelm fled the scene immediately after setting the house ablaze.
Police have charged Wilhelm and Gold with arson and burglary among other crimes.
