Wisconsin man, 59, 'shot and killed his wife of 20 years then blew up their home to cover up the slaying'

  • Steven Pirus, 59, allegedly killed his wife and attempted to cover it up by blowing up their home in Madison, Wisconsin on Wednesday
  • Authorities are not sure when he allegedly killed his wife, Lee Anne Pirus, who was found to have died from 'homicidal firearm trauma'
  • Authorities allege Pirus manipulated his home's natural gas system to cause the explosion
  • Pirus is being held on suspicion of first-degree intentional homicide, arson and recklessly endangering safety

Pictured is the mugshot of Steven Pirus, 59

Pictured is the mugshot of Steven Pirus, 59

A Wisconsin man suspected of killing his wife and blowing up their home to try to cover up the crime has been arrested.

Steven Pirus, 59, of Madison was arrested on Saturday night.

He is being held on suspicion of first-degree intentional homicide, arson and recklessly endangering safety.

Pirus is accused of fatally shooting 50-year-old Lee Anne Pirus.

Investigators believe she could have been killed months ago. Police Chief Mike Koval said that he had shot his wife and wanted to cover up the crime.

Koval told the Wisconsin State Journal: 'Steven intentionally blew up this house. He's as much as admitted it over the course of several days of conversations.'

Koval added that Pirus 'has vacillated between his motives'. 

Police spokesman Joel DeSpain expects Pirus to be charged Monday.

Pirus has been arrested on suspicion of first-degree intentional homicide, arson and recklessly endangering safety

Pirus has been arrested on suspicion of first-degree intentional homicide, arson and recklessly endangering safety

He is accused of killing his wife, 50-year-old Lee Anne Pirus, and burning down their house to mask that he had done so. A preliminary autopsy determined that Lee Anne Pirus died of 'homicidal firearm trauma'

He is accused of killing his wife, 50-year-old Lee Anne Pirus, and burning down their house to mask that he had done so. A preliminary autopsy determined that Lee Anne Pirus died of 'homicidal firearm trauma'

The house at 7806 Stratton Way exploded and caught fire at some point on Wednesday afternoon, NBC15 reports.

Her body was found Friday morning in the wreckage of the house. 

The Dane County medical examiner's office says she died from 'homicidal firearm trauma' as opposed to injuries from the fire.

Authorities allege Steven Pirus manipulated his home's natural gas system to cause the explosion. 

Firefighters work to put out a fire and search through debris from the site of the explosion

Firefighters work to put out a fire and search through debris from the site of the explosion

The couple had been married for at least 20 years. The blast endangered neighbors

The couple had been married for at least 20 years. The blast endangered neighbors

Police say the blast also endangered his neighbors.

Steven and Lee Anne Prius had been married for at least 20 years and did not have children.