Center City, MN (KROC-AM News)- Court documents say the victim of a fatal arson in east-central Minnesota was set on fire

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Deputies from the Chisago County Sheriff's Office responded to a home in a rural area in northwest Chisago County around 3:30 Sunday morning regarding reports of an intentionally set fire. When they arrived at the property, a news release says deputies found a man and woman outside the residence suffering from significant burn injuries.

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The man was airlifted to Hennepin Health Care where he died from his injuries Sunday afternoon. A press release from the Hennepin County Medical Examiner identifies him as 69-year-old Charles Alvin Stene of Harris, MN. His cause of death was listed as “Complications of injuries sustained in a fire.” 

The woman found at the scene of the deadly fire was transported to a Twin Cities hospital by ambulance. Chisago County Court documents say she suffered second and third-degree burn injuries. 

Stene’s daughter arrived at the home and told investigators a man identified as 34-year-old Dallas Raymond Evenstad was known to her and her father and had threatened her in the past. The woman burned by the fatal fire told investigators that she was awakened by the smell of gas and the sound of someone in a bedroom with her and Stene moments before the fire started Sunday morning, the criminal complaint says. 

Evenstad complaint. Chisago County Court
Evenstad complaint. Chisago County Court
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The woman told investigators she verbally asked if someone was pouring gas on her and Stene before seeing Evenstad flick a lighter and run out of the room. She said Stene had caught fire and ran out of the room to put the flames out, according to the charges. 

Court documents say Evenstad was apprehended outside of an apartment in Crow Wing County about 90 minutes after allegedly setting the deadly fire. Court records indicate he was apprehended on an active arrest warrant and that he had a lighter on him along with a shirt that smelled of gasoline in the vehicle he was driving. 

Evenstad complaint. Chisago County Court
Evenstad complaint. Chisago County Court
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Evenstad was arranged on charges of second-degree murder and first-degree assault Thursday morning. His bail was set at $2 million. Detention records indicate he was booked into the Chisago County Jail on Tuesday. His next court appearance has been scheduled for June 22. 

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