Saturday, September 25, 2010

Goldtown, WV: UPDATE: Jackson Man Charged with Murder After Fatal Fire

A man from Jackson County, W.Va., has been charged with murder after a fatal fire near Goldtown.
Posted: 9:10 PM Sep 24, 2010
Reporter: Brooks Jarosz, John Griffith, Anna Baxter, WV MetroNews
Email Address: brooks.jarosz@wsaz.com
Murder Charges Follow Fatal Fire

JACKSON COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) --A man from Jackson County, W.Va., was seen laughing after allegedly setting his house on fire with his longtime girlfriend inside, according to the victim's family.

Ronald Carl Davis, 44, of Kenna, has been charged with first-degree murder and first-degree arson.


"To me he was a real good guy," Alan "Mike" Harper said. "But when he got alcohol in his system he had split personalities and he was just crazy."

Harper's mother-in-law died in the trailer fire and was later found barricaded inside.

"I walked down to the end of the driveway and I asked him, 'Ronny, where's Cathy?' " Harper said. "He started laughing at me and he told me he burnt her alive, and I just beat the hell out of him in the middle of the driveway."

Harper and his wife say they did all they could to try and save their mother, Cathy Lynn Parsons, 52, late Thursday night, but the smoke and fire was just overwhelming.

This is not Davis' first time he's been in trouble with the law.

Davis was just released on parole Aug. 29 after serving 9 years in prison for killing his brother.

"He's just someone who will probably always be capable of committing this type of crime," Jackson County Sheriff Michael Bright said. "There should be some way to protect society from those kind of people."

Harper says gallons of gasoline were stolen from under his trailer, and investigators believe it was used as an accelerate to start the blaze.

The family does say the Davis and Parsons were arguing but a motive for the arson is still being investigated.


UPDATE: 9/24/10 @ 11:15 a.m.
GOLDTOWN, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A man from Jackson County, West Virginia has been charged with murder after a fatal fire near Goldtown.
Ronald Carl Davis, 44, of Kenna, has been charged with first degree murder and first degree arson.

Investigators say Davis is accused of setting a trailer on fire that killed Cathy Lynn Parsons, 52, late Thursday night. The two lived together.

This is not Davis' first time he's been in trouble with the law.

Davis was just released on parole August 29 after serving 9 years in prison for killing his brother.

A spokesperson at the South Central Regional Jail confirms Davis was charged with murder and arson. Davis will be arraigned on the charges Friday.

Investigators have not released a motive in this latest murder.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the very latest information.


UPDATE 9/24/10 @ 3:15 a.m.
GOLDTOWN, W.Va (WSAZ) -- Firefighters have confirmed that a woman died in a fire at a mobile home in Jackson County, West Virginia.
The fire started just after 9:30 p.m. Thursday on First Creek Road near Goldtown.

The West Virginia Fire Marshal is on the scene trying to find the cause of the fire.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the very latest information.


ORIGINAL STORY
GOLDTOWN, W.Va (WSAZ) - Jackson County, West Virginia dispatchers have confirmed a fire at a mobile home on First Creek Road near Goldtown.
The fire started just after 9:30 Thursday evening.

There are reports that a person inside died in the fire, but that has not been confirmed.

An arson investigator has been called to the scene.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for more information.

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