INDIANA COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM AUTO REPAIR SHOPeTruth.com -- The Truth Online Edition!Arson suspect worked at shopMan was former employee at Exit 92 repair centerPublished: Thursday, August 18, 2005 -- The Truth, A1
Last updated: 8/17/2005 11:26:01 PMBy Tom DolanTruth Staff

ELKHART -- The 32-year-old man accused of starting a July 20 fire that gutted Exit 92 RV & Auto Repair Center used to work at the business.

George C. Musialik of 517 Woodlawn Ave. was already in the Elkhart County Jail on a felony charge when Elkhart Detective John Hammel added preliminary felony charges of arson and burglary Tuesday afternoon, police reported.

The arrest came less than a month after fire trucks responded to 3301 Plaza Court. When the blaze was out, Robert Munguia, who operated the repair business, found the fire didn't claim his tools and equipment, someone else did.

A police report valued the stolen tools and diagnostic computers at more than $20,000.

"They took everything," Munguia said the following morning.

About a week after the crime, Elkhart Cpl. Dan Jones stopped a vehicle driven by Musialik. The vehicle had a stolen license plate with a stolen registration sticker. The renewal sticker had been taken from a vehicle parked at Exit 92 repair center, police reported.

"The case just started developing after that," Hammel said.

In the truck and in Musialik's Woodlawn Avenue home, investigators found hundreds of tools stolen during the repair shop break-in and arson, Hammel said.

The suspect knew the business and the building, said Munguia.

"I know the guy. He used to work for us at the same building. He worked for the prior owner," Munguia said. "It's a shame. It's someone I considered a friend."

Just before the fire, Munguia and the shop were the subject of a Truth feature story. Munguia said he was living his dream of running an honest repair shop. He bought the business in October, after clearing out his 401(k) account.

"I feel like this is a hobby. Something I'm getting paid for," Munguia said before the burglary and fire. "This is the American dream. I still can't wake up."

The past few weeks have brought a sobering amount of work in reopening the business at 26328 Parkview Ave., about a half-mile northeast of the old shop. Though he hasn't received any insurance money yet, Munguia's rich with friends and loyal customers.

"We have a lot of people helping us -- a lot of people. A lot of customers want us in business again," he said. "We recovered some of my tools. We're doing the best we can."

Like Munguia, Hammel's putting his own pieces together.

"The case remains under investigation. There's a possibility there were other people involved. There are still tools that were not recovered," he said.

Anyone with information on the case can contact Hammel at 295-7076.

Contact Tom Dolan at tdolan@etruth.com.