The son of a woman who was murdered — along with three other people — five years ago in a small southwestern Bartholomew County community is in jail on an arson charge after admitting he set fire to the home where the killings occurred and one other nearby home.
Daniel Burton, 33, of 2743 E. Main Cross St. in Waynesville is being held in the Bartholomew County Jail without bond on one charge of arson, according to the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department. Burton is being detained without bond on a 48-hour hold, Sheriff Matt Myers said.
Burton is the son of Katheryn M. Burton, 53, who along with her companion, Thomas W. Smith, 39, and friends Aaron T. Cross, 41, and Shawn L. Burton, 40, both of Columbus, were killed May 11, 2013 at 2634 E. Main Cross St. in Waynesville, the home where Katheryn Burton, Smith and Daniel Burton lived in 2013.
Daniel Burton, 27 at the time, discovered the slayings, which took place in his home while he was at work.
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The four had been shot, and Katheryn Burton also had been stabbed.
Samuel E. Sallee was arrested, charged and later convicted on Feb. 25, 2015 of the four murders. He was sentenced two months later to four consecutive life terms without parole.
The Indiana Supreme Court upheld his convictions and sentences in March 2016.
The Wayne Township Volunteer Fire Department and sheriff’s deputies responded to a residence on fire at 2743 E. Main Cross St. after receiving notification by phone at 6:58 a.m. Saturday.
Upon responding, units encountered Daniel Burton sitting in front of the burning home at 2743 E. Main Cross St., Myers said. Upon speaking with Burton, deputies realized a home at 2634 East Main Cross, about a block away, also was on fire.
Firefighters extinguished both house fires.
Investigators learned that sometime after the 2013 murders, Daniel Burton and Steve Furkin swapped residences, Myers said. Furkin took over the 2634 E. Main Cross St. residence and Burton took over the 2743 E. Main Cross St. home, Myers said.
Furkin was not at home when the fire was set, Myers said.
Soon after authorities arrived and began talking with Burton, it was clear from Daniel Burton’s statements that he was involved, and he admitted to setting the fires, Myers said.
“The reason was because (Burton said) he was trying to kill evil spirits (in the homes),” Myers said. “He said there were spirits in both places.”
Burton told investigators that he considered remaining in one of the homes after setting fire to it, but his deceased mother and his dog told him to get out, Myers added.
Deputies arrested Burton and transported him to the jail.
Burton was arrested on one count of arson, but another count could be added, Myers said.
Assisting officers were detective Will Kinman, deputy Teancum Clark, Sgt. Greg Duke, deputy Jeff Tindell, Sgt. Jimmy Stevens, Capt. Brandon Slate and Capt. Chris Roberts.
Assisting agencies were Elizabethtown Volunteer Fire Department, Columbus Township Volunteer Fire Department, Southwest Volunteer Fire Department, Clay Township Volunteer Fire Department and Harrison Volunteer Fire Department.
