Mother-in-Law Murder: Retrial for Naperville Man Two Decades After Fatal Arson

NAPERVILLE — A Naperville man will be retried for the 1995 arson murder of his mother-in-law after DuPage County Judge vacated his sentence in light of expert testimony that may prove him innocent. William Amor, 60, has already served more than 20 years in prison for allegedly murdering Marianne Miceli.

Miceli died in a fire in the Naperville apartment she lived in with Amor and his spouse, who was her daughter, Chicago Tribune reported. Amore and his wife, Tina Miceli reportedly left moments before to go to a movie. Amor was convicted in 1997 after he reportedly confessed to soaking newspaper in vodka and igniting it with a cigarette to start the blaze. He was given a 45-year prison sentence

In a recent hearing, however, fire experts asserted that it would not be possible to start a fire in such a manner and concluded that the fire that killed Micelli was not a result of arson. This information led Judge Liam Brennan to vacate Amor’s sentence until a September retrial, with bond set at $100,000.

Amor’s lawyers have suggested that he was coerced into a confession after “two weeks in jail, immediately followed by being served divorce papers at the station, and 15 hours of questioning.”

William Amor’s next court appearance will be in June.

>>Photo Courtesy of DuPage County Police Department