EUBANK, KY — A juvenile has been charged with two counts of murder and one count of first-degree arson after an elderly couple died from a fire that destroyed their home on Joe McMullin Road in the Eubank community Wednesday night.

Lincoln County Coroner Farris Marcum said a granddaughter of the couple is the juvenile who has been charged.



Everett Garland, 64, and Linda Garland, 60, were pronounced dead after being found inside the burned-out house, according to state police.

Lincoln County Coroner Farris Marcum said the couple's granddaughter was in the house when the fire started and escaped unhurt.

The son of Everett and Linda Garland, Rusty Garland, said he was told the fire started around 10:30 or 11 p.m. First responders received the initial report of a structure fire at 11:05 p.m., according to a news release.

"The community has lost two good people," Rusty Garland said.

Rusty Garland said the granddaughter who escaped the fire is his niece. Linda and Everett Garland had custody of her, he said.

State Police spokesman Trooper Robert Purdy said the juvenile who was charged for setting the home on fire will face a detention hearing later today. The juvenile's name is not being released.

Purdy said the fire was set inside the house.

Purdy said he could not comment on whether the granddaughter was the juvenile being charged.

“I can’t confirm that because if I did then it would tie a name," he said. “All I can release is that it was intentionally set in the residence.”

The granddaughter of the Garlands is who called 911 to report the fire before 11 p.m., according to authorities.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and “a bunch of “ Lincoln County fire department stations responded to the scene, along with state police, Marcum said.

Investigators remained on the scene until about 5 a.m. They returned around 9 p.m. and expected to be on the scene until at least noon.

Marcum said once the fire was extinguished, Everett Garland’s body was found near a back door of the house, where he had apparently been trying to escape the flames. Linda Garland was found in the couple’s bedroom.

“She was found inside the bedroom, kneeling down beside the bed, covered up with a blanket, trying to protect herself,” Marcum said.

Marcum said he pronounced Everett Garland dead at the scene of the fire in the early Thursday morning hours. Linda Garland was transported to Lake Cumberland hospital but was later pronounced dead by the Pulaski County coroner.

Marcum said preliminary investigation suggests cause of death for the couple was smoke inhalation. Autopsies for the bodies are scheduled for tomorrow in Frankfort, he said.

Rusty Garland said funeral arrangements for his parents are being made at Morris-Hislope Funeral Home.

He said his parents were "good people."

"They never met a stranger," he said. "They'd give the shirts of their back for anybody, to help anybody.”

State Police Arson Investigator Pat Alford and a state fire marshal were on the scene Thursday morning investigating the cause of the fire. They did not comment on the record about their investigation.

State Trooper Rodney Wren is heading up the death investigations.

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