NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A husband is charged with murder after authorities say his wife was found dead in a house fire Tuesday morning in Norfolk.

Police say say 61-year-old Kathleen White-Grangruth was found dead inside a home on Wailes Avenue. Officers arrested her husband, 58-year-old Delano Grangruth, on charges of murder and arson.

Grangruth was arraigned Wednesday morning on charges of second-degree murder and burning or destroying a dwelling house. A preliminary hearing has been set for July 18.

“It’s very sad,” said a home health care employee who didn’t want to be identified.

No one wants to see police officers and fire trucks crowd their neighborhood street.

“I heard the engines and I noticed that they were close,” added neighbor Kim Garton. 

Norfolk firetrucks stopped in front of a home on Wailes Avenue.  It was just after 10 a.m. when they were called by a home health care aide who smelled smoke on the other side of the front door. 

“I just had a bad feeling that something bad had happened, but I didn’t know that it was this bad,” the aide said.

When crews went in they found White-Grangruth dead in the living room chair. Officials said the fire was out, and it only broke out in the area of the chair.

“It really broke my heart,” the aide added.

Fire Marshals along with homicide investigators are working to figure out what happened.  10 On Your Side was told the victim was wheelchair-bound and had dementia. She had a nurse come in every day.

“Every time I see her she is always nice, always pleasant,” the aide said. “Very funny, I laughed all the time.”

“I could only imagine having to pass that way,” Garton added.

Garton moved in a month ago and recently met the woman.

“Saturday I went over there and gave them some chicken and that’s when I met her and told her I was going to come over there this week to see her and visit,” Garton said.  “I’m not going to be able to do that.”

Grangruth is being held at the Norfolk City Jail without bond.