July 23, 2012 - Charges have been filed against a suspect arrested in the death of a woman found by firefighters extinguishing a house fire at 10511 Sagetree about 1:05 a.m. on May 3.

The suspect, Brandon Ray Morgan (w/m, DOB: 10-29-74), is charged with murder in the 338th State District Court.  A photo of Morgan is attached to this news release.

The victim, Jeannie Waynette Wiebke, 69, of the above address, was found inside the burning residence.  An autopsy by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences determined she had been beaten and strangled prior to the fire occurring.

HPD Homicide Division Sergeant R. Odom and Officer M. Coleman reported:

Members of the Houston Fire Department responded to a house fire and explosion at the above address.  Upon extinguishing the fire, the badly burned body of Ms. Wiebke was found inside the residence.  Further investigation by the HFD Arson Division determined cause of the fire was not believed to be accidental and the explosion was caused by an oxygen bottle.

Further investigation by the HPD Homicide Division led to the identification of Morgan as a suspect in this case.  He is the boyfriend of Wiebke's caregiver.  Last Friday (July 20), he was arrested without incident.  There is no known motive for Wiebke's killing.