BRANSON, Mo. -- The man who died in a fire at a home last week near Branson was Dan Corwin, 68. Taney County Coroner Kevin Tweedy says Corwin was identified by medical X-rays.
A 12-year-old boy was charged on Tuesday with first-degree arson for that fire, which started about 4 a.m. on May 30. The boy is charged in juvenile court, so the outcome of his case may never be made public unless the case is transferred to adult court.
A conviction for first-degree arson that causes a death carries a prison sentence of 10 to 30 years. A conviction in juvenile court for the same crime likely would mean the boy would be released from the jurisdiction of the Division of Youth Services when he reaches his 18th birthday.
Corwin apparently lived alone in the home that burned along Missouri 376 near the closed Celebration City theme park. Corwin's cause of death is still under investigation from an ongoing autopsy. Sheriff Jimmie Russell wouldn't say whether the boy is related to Corwin.
Firefighters found Corwin's body in the house after the fire was out. The burned house is just west of Branson. Firefighters say it was apparent the home had been burning for hours.
"As a firefighter that's from the first day of your training, is always to rescue someone out of a burning building. That's what it is all about. That's what we are supposed to do and that's what we were trained to do. Then to find out someone did it on purpose, that's hard on firefighters," said Fire Chief, Chris Berndt with Western County Taney Fire Department.
A spokeswoman for Snapp-Bearden Funeral Home in Branson says the funeral for Corwin will be private for the family.
