Man accused of setting sister's camper on fire

A family dispute led to a Sikeston, Missouri, man allegedly lighting his sister's camper on fire Thanksgiving evening in Benton, Missouri, police reported.

Travis DeWayne Nelson, 30, was arrested on the scene Nov. 26 and charged Monday with second-degree domestic assault and property damage, both felonies.

Scott County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Justin Wooten responded to a 911 call about 7:45 p.m. saying a woman's camping trailer was on fire at her residence.

When Wooten arrived in the 1200 block of County Road 333, the camper was fully engulfed in flames, he wrote in a probable-cause statement filed in connection with the case.

The woman said her brother, Nelson, set the camper on fire, Wooten wrote. Shortly thereafter, Nelson was found at the scene, handcuffed, and a purple lighter was seized as evidence, Wooten wrote.

"I attempted to question Nelson, but he was under the influence of alcohol and possibly methamphetamines," Wooten wrote. "Nelson was making random statements such as he had been shot three times tonight and people had attempted to murder him. Nelson did admit to being in the camper but stated the fire started due to an unattended candle."

The victim said Nelson began arguing with their mother, who was unable to take Nelson back to Sikeston, Wooten wrote. Nelson got into the front passenger seat of the vehicle and continued to argue until he threw an open beer at his mother.

The woman approached Nelson and she said he began hitting her in the side, Wooten wrote. The woman said while Nelson was in the vehicle, he tried to take several paper items and light the interior on fire, but the victim smacked the papers and extinguished the flames.

She said this happened multiple times before he gave up, Wooten wrote.

Nelson exited the vehicle and continued arguing with the victim until he punched her in the left side of the head, Wooten wrote. Wooten noted swelling on the left side of the victim's face and eye.

The victim said she fled back to the house and Nelson went to the camper. When she called 911, she noticed the flames showing from the inside of her camper. Wooten wrote firefighters on the scene indicated the fire was set intentionally because of the location of ignition just inside the front door.

Nelson is scheduled for arraignment at 10:30 a.m. today.

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address:

1200 block of County Road 333, Benton, Mo.