Man who started Harrison Twp. fire that killed man sentenced
A man convicted of murder and other charges in connection to a fatal fire on Easter Sunday 2018 was sentenced Monday to 17 years to life in prison.
Shawn Albertson, 50, was found guilty of murder, aggravated burglary, aggravated arson, aggravated robbery, grand theft and aggravated possession of drugs in Gerald Lee Mann’s death. The verdict came after a fourday trial and Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Timothy O’Connell handed down the sentence.
Albertson’s legal troubles began when crews responded to a house fire in the 4200 block of Merrimac Avenue in Harrison Twp. Manns was pulled from the home after he was found unconscious in the basement among rubble from the fire.
He was pronounced dead at Miami Valley Hospital, and the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office ruled Manns died as a result of the fire.
Crews initially did not suspect foul play was involved, but the man’s other relatives felt something off. They also discovered some of his father’s possessions — including his truck — were missing, and a death investigation was launched.
Witnesses and video surveillance identified Albertson as the person who abandoned Manns’ truck, which was found in a residential Harrison Twp. neighborhood.
Further investigation led police to the Days Inn on Miller Lane in Butler Twp., where Albertson and Nancy Dalton were found in a room with drugs and items belonging to Manns.
Investigators determined that Dalton did not participate in the fire, but met up with Albertson shortly after.
In a memorandum filed before sentencing, prosecutors said Albertson hasn’t shown any signs of remorse for his crimes.
“In order for someone to express true gen- uine remorse, they must first understand the seriousness and wrongfulness of their actions,” prosecutors said in a court document. “This defendant has taken no responsibility for his actions. He has shown absolutely no remorse for any of his crimes. In fact, it can be argued that Mr. Albertson sees nothing wrong with going into other people’s homes and stealing from them.”
Prosecutors asked the court to sentence Albertson to 39½ years to life in prison.
Albertson’s defense attorney said in his memorandum that his client has shown remorse for the theft and drug offenses, but maintains he did not cause the fire.