Displaying items by tag: Arson

Akron Fire Department Arson Investigators were called to the scene of a house fire Tuesday night around 8:15 in the South Akron Neighborhood. 

According to the AFD report, the fire started on the second floor of the home at 1286 Moore Street. There is no report on whether or not anyone was home at the time, but there were no injuries reported. 

The investigation into the cause is ongoing, but again, they do believe the fire was set intentionally.

Fairlawn Police have made an arrest in connection to the arson fire at the Cornus Hill Mansion back on January 13th. 

Sgt. Mark Schlegel with Fairlawn PD tells the 1590 WAKR Newsroom that 18-year-old Donavin Gowin of Barberton is under arrest and charged with Arson. He says that Gowin turned himself in to Akron Municipal Court on Thursday morning. 

Three other juveniles were with Gowin at the scene of the fire, but Sgt. Schlegel says they were not involved with the arson. They have been charged, but only with misdemeanor criminal mischief. Sgt. Schlegel says they do not believe that there was any intent or premeditation. 

The home was vacant at the time of the fire, and has been for the past several years. 

Suspected Akron arsonist Stanley Ford, 58, has entered a "not guilty" plea to 29 charges against him related to two deadly house fires that left a total of 9 people dead, and another car fire. 

Ford was arraigned in Summit County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday morning, where Judge Christine Croce left bond at $7 million. He's charged with 29 total counts, including 22 counts of aggravated murder. He's pled not guilty to all of the charges against him.  

Meanwhile, the family of the victims killed in the April 18, 2016 fire, says they are in favor of the death penalty for Ford.

A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for next week in Summit County.

Akron Police and Fire Investigators say the man accused of setting the fire that killed a family of 7 in their home on Fultz Street in Akron back in May is suspected in two other fires, one that claimed more victims. 

Stanley Ford, 58, of Hillcrest Street, was originally charged in the May 15, 2017, fire that killed 7 members of the Boggs/Huggins family, including 5 children. In that case, Ford is charged with 1 count of aggravated arson and 7 counts of aggravated murder. On Thursday, the Deputy Chief Assistant Summit County Prosecutor Margaret Scott announced the additional aggravated arson, aggravated murder, and more charges Thursday. The additional charges are connected to another house fire on Fultz Street, just a few doors down from the May fire, that left an Akron couple dead, and a car fire. There were no injuries as a result of the car fire. In total, Ford is facing 22 counts of aggravated murder, 2 counts of aggravated arson, 1 additional count of arson, and several more charges. "Never before in Summit County history has a suspect been charged with the murders of 9 people," Scott said. 

"This is the worst crime... in the history of this city," Akron Police Chief James Nice said during the press conference, adding that he was at the scene of both house fires and witnessed the tragic nature of the crimes, calling them "horrific." 

Ford remains in Summit County Jail, awaiting his next court appearance, Wednesday, August 2nd. 

Update: On Wednesday morning, Akron Municipal Court Judge Ann Marie O'Brien denied bond for Stanley Ford, 58, saying she's never seen such a heinous act in her time as a judge. 

Ford is due back in court Thursday morning for an initial appearance with his attorney. He is expected to enter a plea. 

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58-year-old Stanley O. Ford of Akron has been charged with one count of aggravated arson, and seven counts of aggravated murder in connection with the deadly fire on May 15th, that claimed the lives of seven family members on Fultz Avenue in Akron. 

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A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Rodney Lee Hylton, 49, of Akron, in connection to the home explosion on Courtland Avenue at South Hawkins in Akron last week. 

Hylton, who was renting the home on Courtland, is charged with Aggravated Arson and Arson, both felony counts, in the explosion and fire. Hylton was inside the Courtland home at the time of the explosion and has been in the hospital since. 

The two counts are because the neighboring home on South Hawkins. 

Stay with WAKR.net and 1590 WAKR as more details are revealed. 

A fire at a West Akron home earlier this morning is being investigated as a possible arson.

A sign saying ARSON and offering a reward is now posted on the charred home on Fultz Avenue.

The two people found dead in the basement of the home have been identified as a man and a woman, 65-year-old Lindell Lewis and a 66-year-old Gloria Jean Hart.

Both lived at the home.

Autopsies say that they died from smoke inhalation, but the MANNER of their death is still pending.

The cause of a Northfield house fire and explosion that killed a family of four on Monday night has been determined to be arson.

That's the word from the State Fire Marshal's Office, which along with the Summit County Sheriff's Office has been conducting the investigation of the fatal fire on Skyhaven Road.

43 year-old Jeffrey Mather and 43 year-old Cynthia Mather died in the explosion along with their two children.

The investigation continues, and further details are not yet being released.

(State Fire Marshal's Office, news release) The Division of State Fire Marshal's Fire & Explosion Investigation Bureau has ruled a fire that occurred at 7486 Skyhaven Road in Northfield Center as arson. The incident killed two adults and two children on Monday, January 11, 2016 around 8:30 p.m.

While the cause of the fire has been determined, the investigation remains open and ongoing. Therefore, specific details of this incident cannot be released at this time.

The Fire & Explosion Investigation Bureau continues to work with the Summit County Sheriff's Office and the Northfield Center-Sagamore Hills Fire District on the investigation.