ROCHELLE – A Palatine man is being charged with first-degree murder after an investigation into a fire last fall in Ogle County. The Rochelle Police Department say that on September 18th of last year, firefighters were called to the 500 block of 7th Ave for a report of smoke in a residence, where they discovered a deceased female inside. In a press conference Wednesday, authorities say they suspect the fire was started intentionally to allegedly conceal the homicide of the victim, identified as 28-year-old Devin Gibbons. Rochelle Police Detectives arrested 27-year-old Gary C. Freeman and charged him with first-degree murder, arson, and concealment of a homicidal death. He was being held at the Ogle County Jail on a $10 million dollars bond.
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