Courier & Press
HPD: Man angry at ex sets fire to empty house used by homeless
HENDERSON - Police say a Henderson man set fire to a house -- often occupied by the homeless -- to spite his ex.
HPD: Man angry at ex sets fire to empty house used by homeless HENDERSON - Police say a Henderson man set fire to a house -- often occupied by the homeless -- to spite his ex. Check out this story on thegleaner.com: https://www.thegleaner.com/story/news/2019/01/10/hpd-man-angry-ex-sets-fire-empty-house-used-homeless/2535884002/
Beth Smith, Henderson Gleaner Published 12:58 p.m. CT Jan. 10, 2019
HENDERSON, Ky. - Police say a Henderson man set fire to a house -- often occupied by the homeless -- to spite his ex.
But the accused, Robert Brantley, said he wasn't in Henderson at the time of the fire.
A fire at a vacant Pond Street residence on Dec. 28, 2018, is believed to be arson, authorities said. (Photo: Henderson Fire Department)
During a preliminary hearing Wednesday in Henderson District Court, Henderson Police Sgt. James Jarboe testified to the alleged evidence in the case against the 31-year-old Brantley, of the 500 block of Fair Street.
Brantley has been charged with arson in connection with a Dec. 28 fire at 916 Pond St.
Jarboe said the house is vacant and has no working utilities. Neighbors told police that the house often shelters local homeless people who "are in and out," he said.
The night of the fire, Jarboe said, "I spoke with Henderson Fire Department Arson Investigator Shane Onstott. He said the fire was purposefully set on the outside of the structure."
Jarboe testified that as part of the investigation, neighbors were interviewed and Brantley's name was put forth as a possible suspect.
Robert Brantley (Photo: Furnished)
The detective said the mother of Brantley's ex-girlfriend lives next door to the structure he allegedly burned (although she doesn't own it). Jarboe said the former girlfriend sometimes stays at her mom's residence on Pond Street.
Detective Jarboe testified that the relationship between Brantley and his ex was apparently "abusive."
"The night of the fire she (the ex-girlfriend) received a message from Brantley saying he'd burn down her house and her family's house if she didn't come out and meet him," Jarboe said.
According to interviews with others who live on Pond Street, the night of the fire some of the neighbors kicked in the door of the burning house to make sure no one was inside "because of all the homeless people who are in and out of the structure," Jarboe said.
The detective said, thankfully, the neighbors didn't find anyone in the house.
Jarboe said as part of the investigation, he spoke with Brantley's ex-girlfriend who told him about the messages she'd received from him threatening to "burn everything she loves."
Authorities tracked Brantley to a residence on Fair Street where he was staying with someone.
Jarboe said city police transported Brantley to the police department for questioning.
Brantley allegedly told detectives that the night of the fire he and a friend were in Evansville. When they got back to Henderson, Brantley told police that he took a shower and went to bed, Jarboe said.
"He denied being in the area at the time of the fire," the detective said. A check of Brantley's cell phone allegedly revealed texts to the ex-girlfriend from Brantley threatening to "blow up everything she loves," Jarboe testified.
At the end of the hearing, District Judge Jill Brady found probable cause for the charge of arson. The case will be heard by a Henderson County grand jury.
Brantley remains lodged at the Henderson County Detention Center under a $2,750 full-cash bond.
Read or Share this story: https://www.thegleaner.com/story/news/2019/01/10/hpd-man-angry-ex-sets-fire-empty-house-used-homeless/2535884002/
Machine shop visionary Ron Royster dies at age 79
Alles Brothers Furniture reopens Henderson store with family roots intact
Longtime Henderson CPA Malcolm Neel dies at 81
City of Henderson hires KSP veteran as deputy police chief
Henderson man dies, father injured in Friday wreck
Henderson Commissioner Staton: 'My thought process on the Fairness Ordinance'