Mexico Public Safety is confirming with the Mexico Ledger that a preliminary identification has been made of 43-year-old Brandon Spears, who was found dead in Mexico on Sunday, March 13, 2022.

Spears body was reportedly found by a home owner in Mexico, however that is yet to be confirmed by Mexico Public Safety.

According to Mexico Public Safety Major Brice Mesko, an official press release will be made on Monday, March 20, 2023. Mesko says an autopsy of Spears will be conducted in Columbia later this week.

Spears was charged with first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree arson, and armed criminal action in January, after an apartment complex located in the 1200 block of West Breckenridge Drive caught fire during the early morning hours of Dec. 23, 2022. Authorities had been searching for Spears for several months.

According to Mexico Public Safety, Spears lived in the building at the time. His mother 60-year-old Ruth Stuart died in the fire. According to the probable cause statement, the medical examiner believes Stuart suffered trauma to her head. The medical examiner also believes Stuart was still alive when the fire started. Investigators linked Spears to a second fire that happened more than an hour later.