Man accused of setting deadly Sedalia house fire tries to lessen his conviction

Aran Cantrell, charged in a 2016 deadly Sedalia house fire, has filed a post conviction relief motion, attempting to lessen his sentence to involuntary manslaughter.

Cantrell is currently convicted of second-degree murder and was sentenced to 24 years in the Jefferson City Correctional Center.

Cantrell and Cody Harvey were accused of killing Matthew Eldenburg by starting a fire in a Sedalia house.

During the investigation, detectives interviewed Cantrell, who they say admitted to pouring gasoline on Eldenburg while he was unconscious on a couch. Cantrell then told the detectives Harvey tried to light Eldenburg on fire, but the flames wouldn’t take, detectives said.

At that point, according to Cantrell, they moved Eldenburg into the kitchen, and after Cantrell poured gasoline throughout the home, Harvey lit a fire with natural gas from the stove turned on, detectives said.

According to the motion, Cantrell believes he is not guilty of a 24-years plea but, guilty of involuntary manslaughter at the most.

For more on the Sedalia house fire, click here.