Severed Finger Leads Florida Police to Suspected Arsonist

TITUSVILLE, Fla. -- A piece of a severed finger inside a glove led police to a suspected arsonist.

Investigators found the finger near the door of a burning home along North Dixie Highway on Friday night. They checked local hospitals and found that 24-year-old Ismael Ortiz had been treated for a similar injury.

Ortiz was arrested and charged with arson of a dwelling and arson to defraud. He is being held at the Brevard County Jail.

Authorities are searching for the homeowner, 58-year-old Samuel L. Davis. They believe he paid Ortiz to burn down the home so he could collect insurance money. Ortiz was dating a woman who lived in the home.