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Investigators don't believe mother's fiancé tried to save children from fireby Linda Russell, KY3 News
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Williams was charged on Wednesday afternoon after being arrrested on Tuesday afternoon. Charging documents state investigators found evidence that an ignitable liquid was used in three different areas on the first floor. The presence of that liquid was confirmed by a trained canine who sniffed the scene. A neighbor also told investigators that he awoke to a loud boom and then saw the flames. Neighbors of the home on Olive said they found Williams in the yard gasping for breath while the home was burning. Investigators said Willams said he and the children's mother, Violet Watson, got out of the home safely after being alerted to the fire by her father, Terrie Watson. They said Williams said he and Terrie Watson went back into the burning home to try to save the children from the second floor but he was repelled by the heat and smoke. Investigators don't believe Williams. They found no soot on his clothes or skin, and no one smelled smoke on him. The trained dog sniffed the jeans that Williams was wearing, which he said he put on after he was wakened. Police say the dog indicated it smelled accelerant on the jeans. At the news conference, police said they know of no motive that Williams might have had to start the fire. "All of us, as human beings, we have an inclination - we want to understand, why did this happen? What motivated this person? Under Missouri law, all we have to prove to any fact finder, whether judge or jury, are the elements that are in that charge, and, if you look at that charge, we don't have to prove motive. We just have to prove that a person knowingly set this fire and should have been aware of the risk that it would have caused serious physical injury or death to other people," said Prosecuting Attorney Darrell Moore. First-degree arson is a Class A Felony that can carry a punishment of ten to 30 years (life) in prison. Someone convicted of that charge would have to serve 85 percent of his prison time. Moore says there is insufficent evidence in the case for murder charges, which require a higher burden of proof than an arson charge.
Violet Watson and Williams' mother defended him in a prepared statement on Tuesday night and again on Wednesday afternoon. They said they don't believe he would intentionally harm people he loved. A reporter talked to Williams' parents on Wednesday morning. They say their son was dedicated to his future family, and treated Alexis, Devin, and Kelsey Watson like his own. Williams worked at a barbecue shop in Nixa. His employers call him dedicated, responsible and dependable. Shop owner Michael Wardell, who’s been acting as the family’s spokesman since the fire, said Wiliams was ready to work hard on day one, and stressed that he needed to financially support his fiancé and her children. Williams' boss says he and his family are concentrating on supporting the children by helping to pay for their funerals. If you're interested in helping, donations can be made at any Commerce Bank. Most Viewed
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