A Trenton man faces a felony charge in Grundy County after allegedly setting his mother’s house on fire September 10th.
Online court information indicates 48-year-old Stacy Todd Davis has been charged with second-degree arson, however, he has not yet been taken into custody for the charge but Davis’s bond was set at $10,000 cash only.
A probable cause statement from Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office Investigator Adam Crouch says following an examination of a fire at 630 Southwest 20th Street, he determined the fire was intentionally set. The statement mentions two areas of fire origin were located in the structure owned by Nikki Davis: one in the living room and one on the back porch. Crouch explains he was advised a male occupant of the structure had been taken into custody for suspicion of burglary of a church.
Deputy Tyler Anderson with the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office reportedly stated Davis made an unsolicited statement that he set his mother’s house on fire with fireworks.
In an interview at the Grundy County Detention Center, Davis allegedly admitted shooting about half of a gross of fireworks inside the house “at the feds who were after him”. Crouch says Davis stated he tried to put out the fires in the house with water, but he had to leave the house after the feds “threw the bomb at him”. Davis then reportedly told Crouch he left the house and went to a neighbor to report the fire before riding his ATV away from the house.
The probable cause statement notes Davis had soot in his nostrils and on his face as well as minor burns on his hands that he claimed were caused by the fire. Crouch reports Nikki Davis denied giving anyone permission to burn the house. Damage to the property was estimated at $150,000.
Grundy County Rural Fire Protection District Chief Kenny Roberts previously reported the house was a complete loss.
