Man charged with arson in Mexico fire that killed three pets, displaced several people
MEXICO, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Mexico, Missouri, man has been charged with first-degree arson and armed criminal action after he was accused of setting a fire at an apartment building on Saturday that killed three pets.
James Schade, 42, was arrested by Columbia police on Wednesday and is currently being held at the Boone County Jail. An Audrain County warrant indicates he will be held without bond.
According to the probable cause statement and press release, firefighters were dispatched to the 400 block of West Monroe Street to a building that housed eight apartments and a business. There were residents in six of the apartments, the statement says.
Court documents say the fire started from a stove in Schade’s apartment. The fire spread to the attic of the building and adjoining apartments, causing the building to be uninhabitable, the probable cause statement says. Two cats and a dog were killed in the fire.
Fire investigators said in the statement that video footage allegedly showed Schade pacing outside his apartment with both of his dogs for about 26 minutes and left about 15 minutes before smoke started showing from the building.
Schade was allegedly later seen on video “recovering a large bag of his belongings that had been hidden in some construction equipment parked near the fire scene,” the statement says. During the fire, Schade allegedly made social media posts about losing property and asked for donations, the statement says.
Court documents say Schade was evicted from the apartment complex and was expected to be out of his apartment by 5 p.m. Saturday. The press release states firefighters were dispatched at 5:36 p.m.
According to the probable cause statement, Schade allegedly admitted to intentionally setting the fire by leaving the stove on and leaving a bag of chicken on top of it.
“He stated he planned the fire due to being evicted and hoped if his apartment burned it would be easier for him to find a new home,” the statement says.
