A 29-year-old Bedford man accused of stabbing his ex-girlfriend to death last year and then setting a fire that killed their 1-year-old son was arrested Monday evening at a sports bar in Hurst, Arlington police said.
Thomas Olivas was arrested by the Arlington Police Department fugitive unit and the U.S. Marshals fugitive strike team, police spokeswoman Tiara Richard said.Firefighters found the bodies of Mechelle Gandy and her son, Asher Olivas, on March 20, 2011, after a fire tore through their home at Presidents Corner apartments in Arlington.Investigators with the Tarrant County medical examiner's office concluded that Gandy, 26, died from multiple stab wounds. Asher died of burns from the fire.Shortly after the fire, detectives began looking into Thomas Olivas' involvement in the deaths, Richard said.Olivas and Gandy had been arguing over child support for their son, Richard said. Gandy worked at 7-Eleven and at Pluckers restaurant.Olivas faces a capital murder charge. He was in the Arlington City Jail with bail set at $1 million.Sarah Bahari, 817-390-7056Twitter: @sarahbfw
Thomas Olivas arrest warrant affidavit (.pdf)
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3-22-11: Investigators pursuing leads in deaths of Arlington woman, child
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