PORT ARTHUR, Texas — A 58-year-old Port Arthur man accused of setting his wife's house on fire has been indicted on an arson charge.
Jerome Anthony Holmes, 58, of Port Arthur, was indicted on Wednesday and is accused of setting his wife's home on fire after the two had been arguing. Arson is a first degree felony.
Holmes' 60-year-old wife called 911 on Oct. 27, 2023 and told dispatchers that her husband had threatened to burn down the house according to a probable cause affidavit in the case.
When police arrived at the fire, which started underneath the front of the house, they found Holmes leaving the scene according to the affidavit.
Holmes repeatedly asked officers about his wife and apologized several times but when officers asked him what he was apologizing for he would not answer them the affidavit said.
Police say his wife saw him start the fire before she called 911 and told them he had told her he was going to light a pillow on fire and put it under the house according to the affidavit.
During the investigation police did find heavy fire damage to the front of the home where Holmes had threatened to start the fire,
They determined that the fire did start there and found some stuffing from a pillow that did not burn according to the affidavit.
Holmes was initially arrested by Port Arthur Police officers at the fire scene for public intoxication.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
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