Bail denied for man charged in apartment fire that killed Edmonton senior

The man accused of starting a fire in an apartment building that killed a 70-year-old man was denied bail on Wednesday.

A man accused of setting a deadly apartment fire last year has been denied bail.

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A contested bail hearing was held for Jason Zabos on Wednesday afternoon, but a publication ban prevents CTV News from reporting what happened during the hearing.

Zabos was charged with manslaughter after the body of Ricardo Olivares was found in the Old Strathcona apartment building three months after fire broke out on Jan. 26, 2024.

Police received a missing person report for 70-year-old Olivares on April 10.

A search of the burned out building was conducted on April 22 and Olivares’ remains were uncovered.

An autopsy found he died of smoke inhalation.

Police had been at the apartment at 107 Street and 79 Avenue for nearly eight hours when the fire broke out.

They were called to assist provincial bailiffs in carrying out a court order against a man who had barricaded himself into a suite.

Zabos was taken into custody at 12:48 a.m. after fire broke out in the suite.

Seven people were hospitalized because of the fire.

In addition to manslaughter, Zabos is charged with two counts of arson with disregard for human life, mischief, obstructing a peace order, and breach of a court order.

He has been in custody since May 2024, where he will stay until his trial, which is scheduled to start in September 2026.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Amanda Anderson