posted November 14, 2006
A joint investigation by the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office, Cleveland Fire Department Arson Investigator Donnie Sullivan, and the State Fire Marshall’s Office on Tuesday led to charges against three individuals for a December 2005 fire on Lowery Street in Cleveland.
The body of Thomas Franklin Chastain, 40, was found in a mobile home after firefighters extinguished the blaze.
Charged with first-degree murder and aggravated arson were Johnny Tyler Scroggins Jr, 49, and Benny Fleaston Shelton, 47. Scroggins was already in custody on unrelated charges.
The third defendant, Eddie Dean Shelton, 46, was arrested Wednesday afternoon. He too is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated arson. Shelton was taken into custody without incident after sheriff's detectives received a tip that he was at a residence in Polk County.
Over the past 11 months investigators have questioned dozens of individuals about the fire, but only recently did they receive a break in the case.
Mr. Chastain died on Dec. 20, 2005 in the early morning fire at the mobile home he occupied at 280 Lowery St. The trailer was engulfed in flames when the Cleveland Fire Department arrived to extinguish the blaze. It took about 20 minutes to bring the fire under control.
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Benny Fleaston Shelton
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