Kid sets a bag of rags on fire in the basement, then just walks out. Entire family dies, murder charge?

Probably so. It's not apples to apples. It is much easier to see the possible end result if you start a fire in a house. But to think a couple of kids could see the end result of this situation is a tough sell.

Probably so. It's not apples to apples. It is much easier to see the possible end result if you start a fire in a house. But to think a couple of kids could see the end result of this situation is a tough sell.

 

Not really. It's pretty easy to see what the result of starting an un-contained fire in the middle of the woods could be. Especially in the middle of a drought.

Not really. It's pretty easy to see what the result of starting an un-contained fire in the middle of the woods could be. Especially in the middle of a drought.

 

Does anyone know if there was a no burn ban in effect due to the dry conditions?

Does anyone know if there was a no burn ban in effect due to the dry conditions?

 

There was, or at least that's what I read.

My point about the bag of rags fire in the basement, kids will do a lot of things and never think of the consequences...Even when it is obvious to us. I know a kid that set a fire in a trash can in his basement and left it, because he had watched his dad burn trash in a can in the back yard for years and didn't think about the danger.

 

When dealing with kids even teens we have to think about them in that way, not as reasonable adults.

My point about the bag of rags fire in the basement, kids will do a lot of things and never think of the consequences...Even when it is obvious to us. I know a kid that set a fire in a trash can in his basement and left it, because he had watched his dad burn trash in a can in the back yard for years and didn't think about the danger.

 

When dealing with kids even teens we have to think about them in that way, not as reasonable adults.

 

when I was little, albeit much younger than these kids, I was playing with matches burning a paper plate. I was doing it in my great granddad's house. He lived in a small house behind my grandparents house. I saw him coming and stuck the plate under his recliner. I thought it was out. Turns out it was still smoldering. He smelled it and found it, luckily before it burned him up. I still remember my grandmother cutting a switch off a tree and burning my butt up.

Charges dismissed for 2 teens accused Gatlinburg wildfires - WSMV Channel 4

 

GATLINBURG, TN (WSMV) -

The charges have been dropped against two teens who were accused of starting the wildfires in Gatlinburg last fall.

 

The wildfires caused millions of dollars in damage in the Smoky Mountains and resulted in 14 deaths.

 

Sources previously told the Knoxville News Sentinel that the boys, ages 17 and 15, were hiking on the Chimney Tops Trail tossing matches onto the ground.

 

The Isaacs Law Firm released a statement saying, "Prosecutors have dropped charges against the two juveniles they initially labeled as being responsible for starting the state's largest and deadliest wildfire this century."

 

Greg Isaacs, defense attorney for one of the teens, held a news conference on Friday.

 

"My client and the other juvenile, based on the proof and evidence, did not cause the death and devastation in Gatlinburg. Period,” Isaacs said.

 

Fourth Judicial District Attorney General Jimmy Dunn filed the order to dismiss the charges.

 

"The unprecedented, unexpected and unforeseeable wind event that started in the early morning hours of Nov. 28, 2016, approximately four and a half days after the initial origin of the fire, was the primary reason the Chimney Tops II fire traveled outside the park into Gatlinburg," said the district attorney's office in a news release.

 

Prosecutors said they are unable to prove the juveniles' criminal responsibility beyond a reasonable doubt because of the winds that reached speeds over 80 mph.

 

According to the state, there were several other fires in the area and additional ignition points that were caused by downed power lines.

 

The release goes on to say, "Once the investigation confirmed multiple fires with multiple points of origin, it became impossible to prove which fire may have caused the death of an individual or damage to a particular structure."

smh

So does that mean they are going to charge mother nature?

So does that mean they are going to charge mother nature?

 

She does have all of that Margarine money they can go after.

Larry Mahoney was charged with murder for the 27 deaths of those who died in the Carrollton bus crash, which he caused while driving drunk. The jury knocked the charges down to man-2.

 

The fact is, finding a jury full of people to agree on throwing the book at someone for something they didn't necessarily intentionally set out to do is not an easy task.

 

In a former life, I worked at Best Buy dealing with people's broke-down electronics and computers. I waited on Larry Mahoney one day when he had his computer sent off for repair. This was 1998, just 10 years after the accident. It took me a bit before I pieced it all together after looking at his invoice, and I was shocked to see him out so quick.

If I carelessly fire a gun and kill someone I'm going to jail for a long time. In this day and age that the only accidental killing that's inexcusable.

I'm beginning to wonder if anyone can get convicted for anything anymore, even video evidence doesn't seem to mean anything

I'm beginning to wonder if anyone can get convicted for anything anymore, even video evidence doesn't seem to mean anything

 

Make some salve and try to sell it.