The arson case against an Oak Grove man accused of setting fire to a mobile home on Zackary Street with his wife inside will be heard by a Christian County Grand Jury.
Oak Grove police say that on April 18, 50-year old Charles Smalls had been in an argument with Charlene Smalls and then used lighter fluid to set fire to the home in the vicinity of a bedroom where his wife was inside.
Detective James Carter testified Wednesday morning that Charles Smalls claimed the fire was an accident, but that the state arson investigation didn’t jive with that story.
Oak Grove police officers and members of the Pembroke Volunteer Fire Department rescued Charlene Smalls from the home and Detective Carter says she’s still in very critical condition at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Carter acknowledged to defense attorney Stephanie Ritchie-Mize that Charles Smalls made attempts to save his wife from the home and that he has maintained the fire was an accident from the beginning.
Christian District Judge Lindsey Adams determined there was enough evidence that a crime had been committed to send the case to the grand jury for consideration and possible indictment. Smalls is charged with first-degree arson.