Camdenton man charged with first-degree arson after denying he started house fire

Officials placed Christopher Demarst in custody after he admitted to setting a fire inside a residence in Camdenton.

According to the probable cause statement, one Missouri State Fire Marshal investigator was called to investigate a fire in the 100 block of Camelot Drive on Sept. 9th. Upon arriving, he spoke with Leslie Demarst, the renter of the property.

The investigator said Leslie Demarst had mostly put out the fire before authorities arrived and a smoldering box was removed from the structure.

After the Fire Marshal’s Office investigated the fire, they determined the fire originated in the box that was removed by the fire department. The box then set the wall on fire. A cigarette lighter was found in the box, in the closet.

The investigator said after Leslie Demarst had awakened to the smoke alarms sounding, she went downstairs and discovered the fire in the bedroom.

The investigator asked Christopher Demarst if he had set the fire and he denied it.

According to the probable cause statement, on Sept. 12th the investigator spoke with a Pathways’ caseworker. The caseworker said Leslie Demarst had admitted Christopher Demarst to the University of Missouri’s psychiatric hospital.

The caseworker said Christopher Demarst had admitted to setting the fire and he had used the lighter.

Christopher Demarst was charged with first degree arson.