Dad charged with arson for setting fire to trailer home--with his 3 kids inside (Billings, Montana)

Dad SHAWN DAVID MURRAY has been arrested for "allegedly" setting a fire in his trailer home--with his three children--ages 10 - 14 still inside. Seems these children had shown this charming gentleman some "disrespect."

I'm not seeing a lot to respect here, personally. Seems like Daddy is basically a pothead and temperamental piece of trailer trash, from what I can see.

But notice something interesting here. It's the GIRLFRIEND who lives here, not the mother of the children. What gives? Is the mother deceased? If so, how did she die and under what circumstances? Or does Daddy have custody/visitation with a living mother? And if so, who the hell gave him any rights over children? Lots of unanswered questions here.

INVISIBLE MOTHER ALERT

http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/article_6a1bbc78-8f7b-5990-abc3-eca1e827be98.html


Man charged with arson for fire at family home

By GREG TUTTLE Of The Gazette Staff
The Billings Gazette Posted: Monday, October 3, 2011 5:00 pm

A man accused of setting fire to a South Side trailer home with his girlfriend and three children inside was charged Monday in Justice Court with arson.

Shawn David Murray, 36, was arrested recently on a warrant for the early morning blaze that destroyed the trailer home at 37 Washington St., No. 40, on Sept. 13.

Judge Larry Herman set Murray's bond at $100,000 and ordered him to appear for arraignment in District Court on Oct. 11. Murray made his first court appearance by video from the county jail.

Prosecutors allege that Murray set the fire with gasoline at about 1 a.m. because his children, ages 10 to 14, had shown him disrespect. Murray's girlfriend also told investigators that Murray had recently been diagnosed with cancer.

The oldest of Murray's children said he saw his father pour gasoline on the floor of the kitchen and living room, then tackled his father when he tried to set the gas on fire with a cigarette lighter.

The boy said he got the lighter away from his father, but the man pulled a second lighter from his pocket and ignited the gas. Flames shot up the boy's legs and ignited his pants, causing him to suffer second-degree burns on both ankles, court records state.

The boy said his father ran from the house. The boy helped his younger brother and sister outside, where they met their father's girlfriend.

Murray allegedly told officers the fire started when he was smoking marijuana, kicked a container and then slipped and fell. The flames were ignited by the burning marijuana, Murray is alleged to have told the officers.

A neighbor told police she spoke with Murray as his girlfriend and children tried to put out the fire and she asked Murray what happened.

"I poured gasoline around the living room and started it on fire," court records state Murray responded. "Well, they disrespected me and I'm dying."

Murray was treated for burns and smoke inhalation at a Billings hospital and was released a few days later. He was arrested on the warrant Friday evening.