A nine-year-old boy accused of burning down his family mobile home killing his father, two half-siblings, his cousin, and his maternal great-grandmother who were inside has been arraigned on murder charges.
Despite firefighters responding to the fire, which broke out at their trailer home at the Timberline Mobile Home Park in Cypress Court at around 11 pm on April 6, in just six minutes, it was already much too late. The home was engulfed in flames, with most of the family still trapped inside.
After putting out the fire, they eventually recovered the bodies of Kyle’s half-siblings, Ariel, 1, and Daemeon Wall, 2, his cousin, Rose, 2, as well as his stepfather Jason Wall, 34, and his maternal great-grandmother Kathryn Murray, 69. All five had died of smoke inhalation. The only family members to survive the blaze were his mother Katrina, who was engaged to Jason, and Kyle, her son from another relationship.
Later that month, Woodford County Coroner Tim Ruestman ruled the fire was started intentionally, with Kyle accused of being responsible. He was officially charged earlier this month.
Kyle appeared to be confused as Judge Charles Feeney at the Woodford County Circuit Court read out his charges at his arraignment this week, which include five counts of first-degree murder, two counts of arson, and one count of aggravated arson.
His publicly-appointed defense attorney had to explain some of the terms Feeney used, including the words “alleged,” “arson,” and “residents.” He could barely be seen above the back of his chair, with his feet barely touching the ground.
The nine-year-old was snapped crying as he was escorted out of the courtroom by his paternal grandparents, who are his foster guardians. He is due back in court on November 22, and will not be held in custody between hearings because of his age.
Woodford County State Attorney Greg Minger, who filed the charges against Kyle, admitted it was a “heavy decision” to charge such a young boy with some of the most serious offenses but that it had to be done for “finality.”
He revealed that, if convicted, Kyle could not be incarcerated because of his age. He said the nine-year-old would be placed on probation for at least five years, but not beyond the age of 21 and would most likely receive counseling as well.