Death penalty sought against Greenfield father
GREENFIELD -- Almost a month after a fire in Greenfield claimed the lives of two boys, Highland County Prosecutor Jim Grandey said Wednesday he is seeking the death penalty if he can get a conviction against the children's father, Wesley Coonrod.
On Tuesday, a Highland County Grand Jury returned indictments against Coonrod, 42, of 150 Lafayette St., Apt. A, on two counts each of aggravated murder, murder and child endangering and one count of aggravated arson.
Grandey said the children, Steven, 3, and Thomas, 4, were killed while Coonrod was committing arson.
According the State Fire Marshal's Office, the fire broke out about 12:30 a.m. March 7.
Investigators said they charged Coonrod because of his level of intoxication and his actions when the fire started.
He allegedly was walking around drunk outside the burning duplex when emergency crews arrived. Neighbors attempted to gain access to the home to find the boys, but they said the smoke was too thick.
Once firefighters were able to enter the home, they found the children in their bedroom. The boys suffered from burns and died later at the hospital from smoke inhalation, a preliminary coroner's report found.
Greenfield Police Chief Tim Hester said when crews arrived, the front and back doors of the home were locked.
Coonrod is being detained in the Highland County Jail on a $1 million bond. Grandey said no court date has been set yet because authorities still are waiting for him to obtain special counsel to represent him in the capital murder case.
http://www.chillicothegazette.com/article/20100408/NEWS01/4080309/1002/rss01
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