Woman who allegedly tried to set husband on fire now charged with killing butcher shop owner in house fire

A Michigan woman awaiting trial on accusations she set her then-husband on fire in 2021 was arrested last week after allegedly killing her employer and a popular butcher owner in a house fire.

On Nov. 3, Julie Boxley, 52, was charged in Marquette County District Court with first-degree murder and arson, according to court records reviewed by PEOPLE. 

The charges stem from a March 5 house fire in Ishpeming, Mich., that claimed the life of 72-year-old Glenn Andrews, owner of Glenn’s Smokehouse, Upper Michigan’s Source, Fox News and WILX-TV reported, citing authorities and family.

According to a GoFundMe campaign set up by Andrews’ family, he woke up in the middle of the night to his house on fire and suffered severe burns. He spent two weeks in the University of Michigan Burn Center before dying of his injuries, the fundraiser states.

At the time, Boxley was living with Andrews to help take care of his sick wife Linda, Andrews’ daughter Jill told WILX.

“It might look like a great situation, but you know always make sure you check all the boxes before you,” Jill said, per the outlet. “You let somebody enter your life and enter your family like that. Because we took care of her as well as she took care of my mother. We took care of her.”

The GoFundMe campaign states that Andrews opened up Glenn’s Smokehouse in Ishpeming, where he was the local butcher and known for standing behind the counter with his “famous mustache.” He and his wife moved to the area 25 years ago after retiring from Dearborn Sausage Company.

“His love of food and bringing people together didn’t end with retirement, he quickly learned,” Andrews’ niece, Lisa Pittiglio, wrote on the fundraising page.

In a statement posted to Facebook after Andrews' death, Dearborn Sausage Company said Andrews had a “zest for life.” 

“Whether it be formulating new products, tinkering with machines, drawing up expansion plans at his drafting table or just mentoring and teaching new employees, Glenn was always there to coach, mentor, encourage and correct,” the statement read.

“Glenn will always be remembered as an outgoing, friendly, loyal, and trusted friend, co-worker, and all-around great guy,” it continued. “He loved life and he will be sorely missed. There are not enough words to express our deep condolences and sense of loss at his passing.”

Boxley also faces charges in a separate case after allegedly trying to light her then-husband James Boxley on fire in their apartment during Christmas in 2021, WNEM reported. 

“I woke up by cold liquid [being poured] on me and right at the moment, I didn’t know exactly what was happening because I just came out of a deep sleep,” James testified in court in August. “It was a small flame, I could see it on top of me, and all of the sudden I realized what was going on.”

“I am looking at her like, ‘What is going on here?’” he continued. “And then she took a book of matches, and she was lighting the matches and throwing them at me and all she would say is ‘I hate you.’”

Boxley’s attorney, Jennifer France, reportedly said in court in August that it is currently being determined whether or not the defendant’s “history of mental illness” factored into her actions. 

According to WILX, she pleaded not guilty to charges including great bodily harm less than murder and assault with intent to murder in September and is expected back in court in December.

Records show Boxley is expected to be arraigned in Marquette County District Court regarding Andrews’ death on Nov. 27. An attorney was not listed for her in court records.