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A man has been booked into jail in connection with the death of prominent Utah restaurateur John Williams, 72, who died in a fire early Sunday morning in an apparent homicide and arson.

Craig Crawford, 47, Williams' estranged husband, was booked on suspicion of aggravated homicide and arson, according to Salt Lake City police.

Williams' body was found by the Salt Lake City Fire Department when they responded to a two-alarm fire at Williams' home near 600 North and East Capitol Street (200 East) at about 1:20 a.m. Paramedics pronounced Williams dead at the scene.

Williams had been a partner in Gastronomy Inc., a business which owns Market Street Grill, the New Yorker and other restaurants and property in the Salt Lake City area.

Court records show Williams filed for divorce from Crawford on May 4, and that Williams filed for a temporary restraining order against Crawford on May 6, which was denied by the court.

Crawford then filed a temporary protective order against Williams on May 13, which also was denied, according to court documents.

Gastronomy spokesman John Becker said Sunday that Williams had been retired from day-to-day operations for several years, but he had previously directed the company's property acquisitions for at least 40 years.

"We are all completely saddened and struggling with the loss," Becker said. "John Williams was a leader in the hospitality industry and will be deeply missed. He was a great contributor to our civic arts, economics, humanities and the hospitality sectors of Utah."

No other injuries were reported in the home, which stood several stories high. Detectives were looking into the case to determine the exact cause of the fire.

The state medical examiner is planning to perform an autopsy on Williams' body.

Twitter: @mnoblenews