MILFORD — Mitchell Andrew Reynolds, 27, 1217 Magnolia Ave., Elkhart, and Scott Noble, 26, 14290 US 6, Syracuse, have been charged with arson in connection with the July 29 house fire at 109 S. James St., Milford.

The fire heavily damaged the residence, which was unoccupied. The home has since been demolished and a vacant lot is all that remains.

During the investigation into the cause and origin of the fire, conducted by Milford Fire Department assisted by Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory Fire Chief Mike Wilson and Fire Marshal Joe Fretz, the fire was determined to have been arson.

The case was stalled until Kosciusko County Detective Sgt. Shane Bucher developed solid information leading to the arrests. Bucher had been working on a rash of other area crimes involving the same two suspects.

Reynolds and Noble were arrested in early August and were among five arrested for a burglary and theft at Deatsman Farms, Leesburg. Noble was charged with burglary, a level 5 felony, two counts of theft, level 5 and 6 felonies; and criminal gang activity, a level 6 felony. Reynolds was officially charged with aiding, inducing or causing burglary and theft, both level 5 felonies and criminal gang activity, a level 6 felony.