Columbia man accused of arson to be in court for bond hearing

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man accused of trying to set a house on fire in Northeast Columbia will make an appearance in front of a judge at the Boone County Courthouse Tuesday morning.

Brandon Butchkoski, 47, will be in front of Judge Benjamin Miller at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday for a bond review hearing.

Butchkoski was arrested in July on charges of possession of a controlled substance and first-degree arson in connection with a fire on June 29. Police said officers responded to the 1500 block of Paris Road to assist firefighters.

Investigators learned Butchkoski allegedly tried to set a single-story house on fire when a backpack with gas in it was thrown on the roof. Minor property damage was reported.

Earlier this month, Butchkoski was charged in another case for first-degree arson and second-degree murder after he was accused of setting another house on fire in June on Paris Road.

He is accused in the death of Donovan Baylis. Baylis was burned in a fire that was set at his home and died about a month later at a St. Louis area hospital.

Police said in a statement that they gathered enough evidence to arrest Butchkoski for the June 29 arson before they had enough evidence to recommend charges for the June 15 fire. Butchkoski, who is homeless, was denied bond, according to court records.

A court date has not yet been set. Butchkoski is currently being held in the Boone County Jail on no bond.