HOUSTON – Police say they've made a major break in the murder case of a popular Houston man who was killed inside his home. Even though the home was set on fire after the murder, not all of the evidence was lost.

For over three months, friends of Brett Elliott have been wondering who murdered him and why. They even set up a special Facebook page shortly after his death.

Elliott, a talented copywriter for the marketing agency Lopez-Negrete, was found inside his burning southwest Houston townhouse on March 30.

HPD homicide detectives said it wasn't the fire that killed him, but blunt force trauma. They found what appeared to be blood outside his front door. Turns out, that blood evidence may have solved the case.

Police said DNA from blood samples placed 27-year-old Michael Deloach at the crime scene.

He's since been charged with charged with burglary of a habitation.

Jay Hagins of the American Advertising Agency said he hoped officials would be able to get Deloach off the streets for good.

Hagins knew Elliott well. While he is excited the police have found a suspect, he knows the good news will not bring his friend back.

“We will miss Brett. The community will miss him and the profession will miss him. He did a lot for young people. He was very interested in helping people get into this career field,” said Hagins.

Deloach has a lengthy criminal history. He's served time for breaking into numerous homes. In 2003, he was sentenced to seven years in prison, but he was released early.

If Deloach had served his full term, Brett Elliott, a man with many friends, might still be alive.