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Arrest made in fire at old Phillips house |
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Tuesday, 01 July 2008 |
An occupant has been charged with starting the fire that destroyed the historic Benton house built by Dr. John Morgan Phillips more than a hundred years ago.
Robert Cox, 22, is charged with negligent burning, a Class A felony, in conjunction with the fire, and he also is charged with filing a false police report.
In addition, Cox is charged in another incident that occurred earlier at the same location, at East and Cross streets, Benton Police Sgt. Patrick Baker said.
“He is charged with filing a false police report in conjunction with a Jeep that was set on fire a few days before the house burned,” Baker said.
Detective Jeremy Reidmiller and Benton Fire Marshal Bruce Armstrong also assisted in the investigation.
No one was injured in the blaze that was reported to Benton Fire Department in the late evening of May 6.
The family home of John Shepherd Phillips and his children for many years, the house recently was owned by Benton businessman Lib Carlisle. It had been converted to three apartments, two of which were occupied. The third apartment was being used for storage by Bill’s Flower Shop, one of two businesses adjacent to the house.
One of those businesses, Henthorne Tax Service, owned by Terry and Wanda Henthorne, sustained minor damage in the fire, Armstrong said. Damage occurred to the vinyl siding and some roofing shingles at the Henthornes’ business, but no damage was reported at the flower shop.
From the onset, the fire marshal said there was little doubt that the fire was deliberately set. A burn pattern visible by a door on the north side of the structure convinced him that an accelerant was used to start the blaze.
“You can see how it went from here, straight up the wall into the attic,” Armstrong said at the scene the day after the fire.
“It looks like someone sprayed something here that ignited,” he said. “The flames had a clear channel because in old houses like this, there is no fire stop in the wall. There’s nothing to block the path.”
Although the fire started at that spot, that apartment was not as severely damaged as one on the opposite side of the house, Armstrong pointed out.
“Fires are strange that way,” he said. “Most of the damage may not be where they start. This apartment sustained mainly heat and water damage and not as much flame damage.”
The other apartment where the greatest damage occurred was gutted by the blaze that was reported to the fire department at 10:29 p.m. Firefighters arrived at 10:30 and were at the scene throughout the next day, Armstrong said.
All of the occupants were home when the fire was discovered, but all were able to get out without injuries. One of those living in the structure included Briel Cox, Robert Cox’s wife, who is disabled and requires a wheelchair for mobility.
Armstrong collected samples of debris from the scene and submitted these to the state crime lab. Analysis revealed the presence of a petroleum distillate, a term that applies to charcoal starter, some paint thinners, mineral spirits and some dry cleaning solvents. He noted that charcoal starter was found near the area of origin.
Baker said Cox was arrested after an interview with police.
Cox is scheduled to appear in Saline County District Court at 1:30 p.m. July 8. Deputy Prosecutor Andy Gill of the Saline County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is in charge of the state’s case.
The remains of the burned structure recently were bulldozed. |
 |  |  |  |  | Just being with family and eating good food is the best part!!- Liz McGee Quantz (Haskell, AR)
The Mabelvale United Methodist Church in Mabelvale, AR will
be hosting a fall carnival on Sunday evening October 26th from 5 to 7pm in the
Fellowship Hall. Kids will love it, parents will too! - Roger Poole (Bryant, AR)
I make an awesome Pina Colda Cake. You buy a boxed yellow
cake mix and mix it and bake it per the instructions on the box. After you bake the
cake allow it to cool for about 15 minutes. Use the end of a wooden spoon to poke
medium size holes all in the cake. Take a can of Eagle Brand Milk and Cream of
Coconut and alternate pouring them into the holes. Place the cake in the fridge for
about one hour, remove and put Cool Whip on top, as much or as little as you like.
The cake is better if you let it sit all night in the fridge before eatting. It is
wonderful!!! - Kelly Chase (Alexander, AK)
My favorite memories of Thanksgiving were when we lived in
Tulsa, Ok. There were always folks that didn't have a place to go for the holiday-
so they wound up at our house along with most of my husband's family from Benton.
The house was packed. The Thanksgiving meal was wonderful. But the celebration
didn't end there. At night, all weekend, there were pallets spread throughout the
house and the good eats seemed to never end. And on Friday morning (after
Thanksgiving) all the females were up before dawn and Christmas shopping by 8:00
a.m. Those are memories that I will cherish forever. - Billie Loe (Texas)
I always get to make the turkey for our Thanksgiving. So
you can add more butter or flour for consistency. Wash your turkey, pat dry, take
another stick of butter and rub all over turkey. Then take with your hands and smear
the batter a little thick, all over the turkey. Once all of the turkey has the
batter on it, I will melt the another bar of butter and put it in the bottom of the
pan of my turkey. It will make a wonderful gravy to use on your turkey when done.
So, then get enough aluminum foil to make a "tent" over your turkey. Put in oven and
bake @ 375 all night. It will be so moist, the crispies are great and the gravy
makes it better. Now the flip side to this is, it will be so tender it will fall apart.
So, I do not serve as a whole turkey. I go ahead and slice up, pour some grave
over some of the sliced up turkey for those who like it and then slice up some
turkey without gravy. You will have many compliments on this. Happy Thanksgiving
and Enjoy! - Liz Johnson (Benton) We prepare a traditional Thanksgiving dinner that morning.
Then we pack it all up and travel to deer camp in South Arkansas. We serve dinner to
all those who don't have family with which to share. We'll spend the afternoon
playin' dominos, pitchin' horseshoes and just visitin'. It's a wonderful time. - Pat Stuckey (Bismarck) We invite all the family in and cook the traditional feast.
Everyone gets silly when they get full. That is entertaining. - Jim Perry (Benton) Frozen pizza - Greg Marsh (Medicine Hat) The whole family gets together and we have dinner and noon
visit for a while then go home to take naps and get ready for black friday sales! - Terrie Schulz (Benton)
My childhood memories are of the sumptuous dinners my
grandfather, Byron Yarbrough, Sr. would prepare. Family members came from all over
Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas to our home of South East Street. It was a wondeful
time I really didn't learn to appreciate until he and my grandmother passed away.
Later, my cousin Eleen Murray brought the tradition back and family members gathered
at their home near Lake Norrell. Today, it's the memories of
Thanksgivings past that I treasure. It was because of these gatherings that I came
to realize the importance of family. - David Hughes (Herndon, VA)
My favorite time of remembering Thanksgiving is when all of
my family would get together and enjoy the most wonderful feast I have ever tasted.
My mom would make at least 2 to 3 different stuffings, actually her and my sister
Tammy Parker(Schultz) would make everything. I am not quite the chef my mom and
sister are. I live now and have lived for most of my life away from home in
different states so I have tasted many other dishes. None can compare to my
mom's(Pat Brumley). But most of all it is the family being altogether and just
laughing and having fun. My husband experienced this tradition for the first time in
1999 and still to this day can not stop talking about it. His traditions were not
the same. He couldn't believe the amount of food, fun, and family we had for the
holidays. I didn't understand it because I am used to it always being that way. I am
very lucky to have the family I have. My ex-step dad (David Hughes) still treats me
and my sister like his own so I have extended family to share the holidays with too. Even if it
is just a phone call, prayer, or written. I sure so miss Benton. I was raised
there and even though I am in Hoosier state since 2001 I let everybody know I am
proud to be a Razorback. I will never be anything else. God bless everyone in
Benton and someday I hope to see you soon. - Debbie Brooks (Schultz) (Columbus, IN) |
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Razorbacks
