Denton man charged in series of arsons, deaths of elderly couple, officials say
A Denton man has been charged in a series of arsons, including one that killed a 103-year-old man and an 83-year-old woman, Denton police and fire officials said.
John Howard Ore, 36, has been charged with two counts of arson and two counts of arson causing serious bodily injury or death, according to a statement.
The first arson Ore is charged with took place on Dec. 17, 2024 at a restaurant in the 6400 block of Interstate 35, officials said. No one was injured in that incident.
The next day, the Denton Fire Department responded to a fire at a home in the 2000 block of Houston Place, where the two elderly victims lived, according to the statement.
Dante Bassi, 103, and Marilyn Bradley-Bassi, 83, were rescued from the home, but later died in the hospital from injuries sustained in the fire, officials said.
On Jan. 21, Denton fire crews put out a fire at a daycare in the 1700 block of West Oak Street, officials said. Security footage from the daycare showed a man breaking a window and starting the fire.
Ore was arrested two days later for the restaurant and daycare fires, and was later charged with setting the fire at the Bassis’ home, officials said.
Ore is being held in the Denton County Jail on a $2.1 million bond.
