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Nov. 26--OVERLAND -- A man who argued with his ex-wife Friday afternoon apparently became so distraught that he poured gasoline around the house they shared and lit a fire that killed him, officials said.
Firefighters found the burned body of John Michael Walsh, 58, in the kitchen a short time later.
A police officer was called to the home, in the 2200 block of Dawes Place in Overland, about 3 p.m. because Walsh was arguing with his ex-wife.
Overland Police Chief Mike Laws said the officer defused the situation and was leaving when the situation again escalated.
The officer got the woman out of the house, but when he returned to try to calm Walsh, he had locked the door and could be seen inside with a gas can, Laws said.
He was threatening to harm himself, Laws said, and a short time later, flames could be seen in the home.
Firefighters were called and put out the fire. Walsh's body was found in the kitchen. A cause of death wasn't immediately clear.
It wasn't immediately clear who owned the home.
Joel Currier covers breaking news for STLtoday.com and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
