A home in the 3600 block of Chestnut Street — a property at the center of an ongoing legal dispute over a Corpus Christi man’s claimed authority over nine rental properties — caught fire Sunday, and investigators now suspect arson, according to the Corpus Christi Fire Department.
Eric Lee Tunchez, founder of the Corpus Christi Cronica, was arrested at the scene on an outstanding warrant. He told officers the address was his residence, according to the probable cause statement.
Fire at Chesnut Street home Eric Tunchez claimed as his residence under arson investigation
CCFD confirmed the fire broke out at a one-story home described as vacant. Heavy fire and smoke originated in a converted garage and extended into the living area. Firefighters knocked down the blaze before it spread to a nearby home. One firefighter suffered minor injuries, according to the department.
In a message to KRIS 6 News, Assistant Fire Chief Tony Perez confirmed arson is suspected and that investigators are awaiting lab results and following up on leads. The home was vacant at the time of the fire, Perez said.
On Monday, KRIS 6 News reported that Tunchez has claimed adverse possession — a legal doctrine sometimes called squatters’ rights — over nine Corpus Christi rental properties tied to the Estate of Robert Michael Peters and the Living Trust of Earl and Bernice Peters. Court records show Amy Becker, the court-appointed administrator of the Peters estate, holds exclusive legal authority to manage and collect rent from those properties, including the Chestnut Street address…