After Facebook Threat, Police Say, Man Killed Daughter in Fire

Pair had argued about the woman moving out
By Bob Cronin,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 25, 2019 7:03 PM CDT
Man Charged in Daughter's Death After Facebook Threat
Investigators examine the scene of a fire at a mobile home Wednesday in Paynesville, Minnesota.   (Dave Schwarz/St. Cloud Times via AP)

A Minnesota father and daughter had been arguing over her plans to move out of their mobile home, police say. The man posted on Facebook that he wanted to burn the place down. On Tuesday night, according to a police report, Jamey Newport called 911, screaming that someone was pouring gasoline in her home and was about to light it. Just before the call went dead, she said she was trapped. When police arrived at the Paynesville home, they found John Newport outside it, screaming at his daughter, who later died at a hospital. He now faces a second-degree murder charge, the Star Tribune reports.

As the mobile home burned, John Newport tried to get in but couldn't, and officers had to restrain him once they arrived. A neighbor also saw an officer kick out the back door to try to get to the woman, but the flames blocked him. "There was no way he could get in there," the neighbor said, per the St. Cloud Times. Newport, who appeared in court Thursday, is being held on $1 million bail. (More arson stories.)

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