Man who allegedly burned down house on 14th Ave. which killed Columbus man arrested
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A 19-year-old is behind bars after allegedly burning down a two story house on the corner of 14th Avenue at 16th Street in midtown Columbus on March 4th.
Columbus firefighters responded to the original call around 10:20 and found a fully engulfed house fire. Police also arrived on scene.
After extinguished the fire by hoses and a ladder truck, the fire was extinguished- which led to the firefighters on call to find a deceased body. The body would later be identified as 47-year-old Val Almonord, according to Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan. Almonord has gone up for an autopsy, but the findings of the autopsy have not yet been released pending investigation.
According to court records, Richard Jernigan has been charged with Arson 1st Degree and Criminal Damage to Property 2nd Degree.
Richard was arrested after running from the scene. Richard was placed in the back of a police cruiser where he slept peacefully until officers placed cuffs on his hands and legs.
An investigation is continuing into what caused the fatal fire.
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