 |
|
     |
|
|
Nevelyn Stokes |
VICTIMS: 6 |
St. Louis - Friday, March 12, 1999 Nevelyn Stokes, 23, told police that he encountered a woman and her boyfriend Friday afternoon on the street. The pair beat him, he said. Stokes allegedly had robbed the woman about a month earlier, police said. Later that Friday, Stokes, bent on revenge, was back at the woman's apartment. He brought a can of gasoline with him. Sound like something bad is about to happen? Police say Stokes set fire to a second story rear porch, apparently believing no one was in the building. But he was a little of the mark there, six children and three adults were inside. A man, 18, dropped from a window. Fire-fighters picked another man, 19, off the roof. A woman, 20, tried to get to the third floor, where two of her children were. But she couldn't get through the flames and smoke and dropped from a window, suffering a broken leg. Meanwhile, three of the children fled to a closet, apparently trying to escape the flames. Fire-fighters found their bodies. In the living room were the bodies of three more children. One wouldn't think that this left a pretty sight for the fireman. Police identified the victims as Amber Polk, 6 1/2 months, Briana Sanford, 2, Forise Dexter Nowden, 5, Jason Wordlaw, 6, Darrell Howell Jr., 8 and Danielle Williams, 9. Rather amusingly, and perhaps a testament to the stupidity of Stokes, the house was right across the road from a fire station. But even as close as they were, fire-fighters could not rescue the children as the flames spread rapidly. Stokes was charged with one count of first degree arson and six counts of felony murder. The murder charge means a death was caused by the commission of a felony -- in this case, arson. Each count of felony murder carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. Prosecutor Dwight Warren, who runs the homicide unit of the circuit attorney's office, said Stokes cannot be charged with first degree murder -- which could carry a death sentence -- because he had no intention to kill anyone. "We can't prove he knew anybody was in there," said Warren. Investigators learned at the fire scene about the earlier fight involving Stokes and began looking for him. Traffic Officer Tim Pratt went to Stokes' home in the 2500 block of Dodier Street. Fifteen people inside confronted the officer. Stokes' mother was afraid the police would harm her son, but Pratt convinced her to turn him over to police. Stokes struggled briefly with Pratt. It is with some amusement that I can report that the police officer was assisted in this 'subduing' of the suspect by some of the people in the house. The case has not yet been heard, but it would be a miracle if Nevelyn Stokes escapes a very, very long prison sentence. As an interesting laughing point - the intended victims were not even in the house at the time of the fire. |
|
MY OPINION This guy is a fucking idiot. What kind of dickhead sets fire to the house of those whom everyone knew he had been fighting with earlier that day. A truly stupid individual, and for this stupidity I hope he gets life. |
|