Four escape burning home; man charged with arson

BENTON, Mo. -- A Benton man is in custody on charges he set a house on fire with four people inside.

Thomas R. McDonnold, 25, of Benton is charged with first-degree arson, four counts of first-degree domestic assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

On Sunday, deputies and firefighters responded to a structure fire at 1264 County Road 333 outside Benton.

The homeowner told deputies she awakened to a smoke-filled residence, but she was able to get her two children and grandchild out of the home.

She said she noticed the fire coming from the northwest bedroom on top of her daughter's bed.

Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter reported the homeowner said she believed McDonnold had set the fire intentionally because he had been involved in a disturbance the day before with her daughter, who lives at the residence.

State fire marshals determined the two origins of the fire were in the northwest bedroom on a bed and bunk bed.

Walter reported a witness stated McDonnold admitted to burning the residence down.

"McDonnold told the witness that he could hear the girls screaming inside the residence," the sheriff said.

Another witness told deputies McDonnold had said he was going to burn the residence down with everyone in it. A third witness placed McDonnold at the residence shortly before it was on fire, Walter said.

McDonnold was taken to the Scott County Jail, where he remained Monday.

Bond was set at $25,000 cash only.