Las Cruces deadly fire being investigated as homicide

A deadly blaze that claimed the life of a 67-year-old Las Cruces man last month was no accident, investigators said Tuesday . Now they’re offering a reward for anyone who helps identify the person responsible for the fire. The death of Allie James Hardeman is being treated as a homicide as investigators say someone used a chemical to set or spread the fire, police said. Firefighters responded to the 800 block of E. Idaho Ave. the evening of February 26 . When they arrived, they found a second-floor apartment engulfed in flames. Inside, they found Hardeman unconscious in the bedroom. Firefighters tried to revive him, but couldn’t. He was taken to Memorial Medical Center in critical condition, but he later died. The medical examiner ruled the main cause of death to be smoke inhalation. Investigators have been unable to contact Hardeman’s family. A Mesilla Marshal’s Office K-9 trained to investigate fires identified 12 to 13 spots within the apartment where some type of chemical may had been used to spread the fire. Samples from those locations were sent to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or ATF, for testing. Las Cruces Crime Stoppers is offering $1,000 for information that leads to the person who set the fire. Call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or send a tip by text message to CRIMES (274637), keyword LCTIPS if you have information. You may remain anonymous.