Story Created:
Mar 16, 2010 at 9:56 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Mar 17, 2010 at 10:12 PM CDT
According to online court records, David A. Williams is charged with first degree arson with injury or death. Williams, fiancé of the woman who lost three children in a Monday morning Springfield house fire, is under arrest on suspicion of arson. Police will hold a news conference at 3:30-4:00 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. Tune into KSPR News at 4:00, 4:30, 6:00 p.m. for updates.
KSPR NEWS has learned Williams was booked in the Greene County Jail Tuesday evening.
Williams, 26, was home Monday when flames spread through the house at 1711 W. Olive St.
Three children -- Alexis, Kelsey and Devin Watson -- died in the fire.
Their grandfather is hospitalized in critical condition.
Police and fire investigators say the scene is "suspicious," though they won't talk about what steered them in that direction. Tuesday, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives worked inside the charred ruins of the house.
Williams is not yet charged with a crime. His arrest is considered a "hold." It gives prosecutors up to a day to file formal charges. No bond amount was listed on his booking page on the jail's website.
His fiancé and his mother late Tuesday issued statements of support for Williams. They said there is no way he set fire to the house.
"My son would never hurt anybody, especially the children and the people he loved the most," said Williams' mother, Linda Mendoza.
"David did not and would never hurt my children," said Violet Watson, Williams' fiancé. "He loved them with all his heart."
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