Murder, rape charged filed in Washington Park fire

WASHINGTON PARK _ Authorities say one man is charged with murder and another with hiding the crime after a man's body was found in a burned Washington Park house.

Thirty-nine-year-old Lortez Thomas of Washington Park is charged with first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault. And 32-year-old Jason Cowley of Collinsville is charged with one count of concealing a murder.

Thomas's bond is set at $1 million. Cowley's bond is $100,000. Both were in the St. Clair County Jail on Wednesday, and it's not clear if they have attorneys.

Eric J. Mollet's charred body was found Sunday. Investigators say they think the 47-year-old was killed nearby and taken to the house that burned.