The only member of a family not killed during a 2013 quadruple murder has been charged with arson and burglary.
Daniel W. Burton, 33, of 2743 E. Main Cross St. in Waynesville, was formally charged Friday with one count of arson as a Level 4 felony, which is punishable by two to 12 years imprisonment if convicted. He was also charged with a Level 5 felony charge of burglary, which carries a possible penalty of one to six years in jail.
The case is set to be heard by Bartholomew Superior Court 1 Judge Jim Worton. An initial hearing will be scheduled after the judge returns from vacation, court officials said Friday.
Daniel Burton was being held in the Bartholomew County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bond.
The suspect 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 on May 11, 2013.
Samuel E. Sallee is serving four life sentences for the killings at 2634 E. Main Cross St. in Waynesville. Daniel Burton discovered the bodies after returning from work to the house owned by his mother and Smith, according to court documents.
Sometime after the 2013 murders, Daniel Burton and neighbor Steve Furkin swapped residences, when means Burton has been recently residing at 2743 Main Cross St. in Waynesville, Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers said.
In a probable cause affidavit signed by Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department Detective Christopher Roberts, fire broke out at both residences shortly before 7 a.m. Dec. 22.
As firefighters worked to put out the fires, Bartholomew County Deputy Teancum Clark saw Daniel Burton staring at his current residence from across the street while rocking back and forth, the affidavit stated.
After Clark approached and began questioning him, Daniel Burton admitted to setting both fires and told investigators he had a lighter with him, according to the affidavit.
Daniel Burton was taken to the interview room at the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, where he was questioned by Detective William R. Kinman, Jr., the affidavit stated.
Daniel Burton told Kinman he lit the fire inside of his current residence because he was going to lose his house due to not paying taxes, the affidavit states.
He also told Kinman that he went to his family’s former residence now owned by Furkin and ignited it by setting paper on fire inside the house, according to the affidavit.
When Daniel Burton’s arrest was initially announced, Myers told reporters Burton had said he was trying to kill evil spirits in both houses.
Daniel Burton also 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, the sheriff said.
The damage to the home and property owned by Furkin was at least $5,000, the affidavit states. Furkin was not at home when the fire was set, Myers said.
