Alleged arson turns fatal after suspect’s mom dies
Death ruled homicide after Feb. 22 fire; son faces murder charges.
The mother of a Dayton arson suspect has died, and her death has been ruled a homicide.
Julie Dennis, 50, of Dayton, was pronounced dead on Friday morning from injuries sustained during a fire Feb. 22 at her 29 S. Terry St. home.
Her son, James Dennis, 23, was arrested after he was accused of setting the Feb. 22 fire intentionally.
He was first charged with two counts of aggravated arson and a single count of arson.
The Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office announced Friday that a grand jury indicted Dennis on additional charges.
Dennis was indicted on two counts of murder; two counts of aggravated arson with intent to harm a person; and one count of aggravated arson for setting fire to an occupied structure, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Investigators said Dennis was standing outside of the burning home when crews arrived. His brother was trapped on the roof and their mother was trapped inside, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Dennis is being held in the Greene County Jail on $500,000 bond. He is set to be arraigned on Tuesday.
According to court records, he was accused of using a lighter to set a couch on fire at the East Dayton home, knowing that his mother, Julie, and brother, Jonathan, were still inside.
His brother also was injured in the fire and at one point listed as in serious condition, but he appears to have recovered since he is no longer listed as a patient at the hospital.
The investigation is a joint effort by Dayton fire and police departments, Sgt. Michael Godsey of the Dayton police homicide squad, previously said.
Dayton District Chief Rennes Bowers said at the time that the fire appeared to have started from the first floor and spread.
Crews were making their way to the second floor as they were fighting the fire on the first floor and one person was on the roof and had to be brought down with ladders.
Two dogs were also treated for smoke inhalation.