CENTRALIA — Centralia police have arrested two men in connection with a fire last week that destroyed a rental home.

According to Centralia Police Chief Greg Dodson, 26-year-old Nicholas D. Fletcher, of St. Louis, and 27-year-old Justin A. Pitt, of Beckemer were arrested and charged with residential burglary and arson. Pitt was also charged with possession of a controlled substance and driving while license suspended.

The fire occurred early Thursday, March 26, in the 700 block of South Pine. Officers responded to the scene after firefighters found multiple ignition points in the home and that an accelerant had been used.

Initially it appeared that the arson was done in an attempt to cover up a burglary, as several item removed from the residence were located in a trash can nearby.

Later after conducting interviews with family members, it was determined that Fletcher — the homeowner’s nephew — was possibly responsible.

On Monday, an investigator located Fletcher and brought him in for questioning.

Fletcher reportedly told police that he knew the house was unoccupied due to the resident being out of town.

He stated that on the night of the fire, he and another male subject broke into the residence where he traded sex for drugs.

Fletcher stated that he and the other male subject spent the night together in the residence and in the morning they burglarized the home removing several items and set the house on fire.

Later Monday the second subject identified by Fletcher as Pitt was located on a traffic stop. Pitt was found to be in possession of methamphetamine at the time of the stop and was taken into custody.

Pitt was interviewed and also admitted to breaking into the residence and being involved in the burglary and arson.

Both subjects are being held in the Marion County Jail on formal charges of Class 1 felony residential burglary and residential arson.