Investigators say the motive was revenge. And a 61-year-old man now is charged with murder and arson for the Kankakee fire that killed two young boys.

Alex Sawyer has been arrested for the April 13th fire that resulted in the deaths of 2-year-old Ju'Shaun Watson and 4-year-old Justice Stewart. Both boys died at Chicago area hospitals of injuries suffered in the fire on W. Station Street in Kankakee.

Sawyer is charged with two-counts of murder and 8-counts of aggravated arson.

Five civilians and three firefighters were also treated for injuries.

Kankakee Fire Department Arson Investigators and Kankakee Police Detectives determined the cause of the fire at 894 W. Station Street to be arson. Several people were interviewed and evidence was collected since the fire.

A press release from the Kankakee Fire Department did not state Sawyer's connection to the victims. Although revenge is mentioned as a motive, no further details were disclosed.

Agencies involved in the case included Kankakee Fire and Police, the Office of the State Fire Marshall, Illinois State Police and the Kankakee County State's Attorney's Office.

94.1 WGFA