Matthew Zarins faces homicide, drug charges from January 11 fire

May 4, 2023  — A three-month long investigation by the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office into the death of 51-year-old Jennifer K. Johnson has resulted in the arrest of 50-year-old Matthew J. Zarins. On May 3rd at approximately 4:00 p.m. an arrest warrant for Zarins was executed at 123 North Thomas Street in Loyal Wi. Taylor County Detective with the assistance of the Loyal Police Department and Clark County Sheriff’s Office entered the residence and ultimately located Zarins hiding in the attic to avoid detection. Zarins was subsequently taken into custody on a Taylor County warrant without incident. Zarins faces the following charges in Taylor County: Homicide by Negligent Handling of a Dangerous Weapon, Class G Felony Manufacturing of Methamphetamine, Class F Felony Possession of Materials for Manufacturing Methamphetamine, Class H Felony Maintaining a Drug Trafficking Place, Class I Felony Possession of Waste from Methamphetamine Manufacturing, Class H Felony. On January 11, 2023, at 12:11 a.m. the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a structure fire with injures located at N44 Clark Dr in the Town of Maplehurst , Taylor County. Taylor County deputies along with fire and ambulance services were dispatched.  Upon deputies’ arrival they found a homemade structure built from an old camper frame on fire. The owner of the structure 50-year-old Matthew J. Zarins was injured while escaping the structure and was burned along with other injuries. 51-year-old Jennifer K. Johnson of Stanley, Wi. also escaped the structure but was severely burned. Both parties were transported by ambulance for medical treatment. Jenifer K. Johnson succumbed to her injuries and died; Matthew J. Zarins recovered.