The Madison man accused of blowing up his home to hide the murder of his wife was charged today with first-degree intentional homicide in the death of his wife Lee Anne.
Steven Pirus, 59, also faces charges of recklessly endangering safety, arson and four counts of mistreating animals causing death.
Pirus remains in jail on $1 million cash bail.
Prosecutors say Pirus disconnected the gas line to the dryer, which caused the explosion Sept. 13, 2017.
They say he was attempting to cover up the murder of his wife, who could have been dead in the house for weeks, if not longer.
"The defendant admitted to loosening the gas lines in his home to the dryer and extinguishing the water heater pilot, so that the gas would keep going," Assistant Dane County District Attorney David Hart said at an earlier hearing.Hart says Pirus took pains to protect his valuables. "He packed up his things and moved them from the house to avoid the explosion of his own material."A probable cause affidavit states Pirus told investigators he killed his wife sometime between July 30 and Aug. 12. Authorities say the condition of the body when found Friday did not permit investigators to pinpoint a time of death. Hart says Pirus shot his wife in the head.