Pennsylvania

District Attorney Seeks Death Penalty for Man Charged in Deadly Pennsylvania ‘Revenge' Fire

A western Pennsylvania prosecutor says he'll pursue the death penalty against a man accused of starting a fire that killed six people.

Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala announced the decision Tuesday in the case of 25-year-old Ryan Williams.

Prosecutors say Williams was set on revenge when he broke into Keith Egenlauf's McKeesport home Oct. 18 and tossed a burning toilet paper roll on a couch.

They say Williams believed Egenlauf was to blame for Williams being recently jailed.

Egenlauf escaped the fire but was critically burned. But Egenlauf's 55-year-old father and 27-year-old wife, and her four children, all perished in the fire.

Zappala cited the deaths of the children among seven aggravating circumstances he says warrant the death penalty.

Williams has waived his preliminary hearing. He's jailed without bail.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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