LOUISIANA, MO. -- UPDATED: February 12 at 9:00 a.m.
A man who admitted to starting an Independence Day fire because his wife would not go watch fireworks with him will be sentenced March 26th.
Russell Ray Darnell of Bowling Green pleaded guilty to an arson charge.
Darnell admitted he started a fire in a home at Seventh and North Carolina streets on July Fourth of last year.
The defendant told police at the time that he did so because his wife would not go watch fireworks with him or answer his telephone calls.
~Story by Brent Engel
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UPDATED: August 28 at 9 a.m.
The Louisiana man accused of setting fire to his family's home on July fourth is headed to trial in December.
42-year-old Russell Ray Darnell of Bowling Green faces felony arson charges for allegedly setting a blanket on fire in the living room of the house his wife and children were living in.
According to court documents, Darnell told police he did it because his wife would not go watch fireworks with him or answer his telephone calls.
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ORIGINAL STORY: Friday, July 6, 2012
A Louisiana, Missouri man is behind bars after his arrest in connection with a July fourth house fire.
Russell Darnell, 42, remains in the Pike County Jail on $10,000 bond.
Firefighters were called to this home at North Carolina and Seventh streets just after the fireworks ended Wednesday night.
No injuries were reported in the blaze. The home belonged to Louisiana City Councilman Don Oakley.
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