Police in Florida arrested an Escambia County man after he intentionally set fire to a home Friday, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
John Henry Walston, Jr., 27, is believed to have started the fire at the Grand Oak Mobile Home Park on Flaxman Street in Pensacola. Once the fire was extinguished, Escambia County Sheriff’s officers found two deceased children inside.
The victims have been identified Vayden Orum, 9, and Rayden Smith, 7. Police say the two children were dead before the fire began, with one of the children being sexually assaulted.
Escambia County Sheriff’s officer Chip Simmons said Walston escaped the fire and sought medical help at the local hospital.
A third child and an adult were also receiving medical care due to the fire.
WEAR reported that the other adult has been identified as the mother of the two deceased children. Witnesses saw her running into the blazing mobile home in an attempt to save the children.
“She went into the trailer trying to get them. That’s a mother’s love,” said John Wenzel, a neighbor.
“I mean, the trailer was totally involved inside. That’s why she’s in the Mobile Burn Center. She went inside the house trying to get her kids, but it was too hot. They finally got her out of there.”
The father of Smith and stepfather of Orum, Tyler Smith, told WEAR News that he had known Walston for years and that he owned the home.
Smith could not believe Walston or any human could do this.
“How can you expect any human being to do this?” Smith asked. “Let alone an adult to two kids.”
WEAR asked Smith if he had anything else to say, and he spoke to Walston, saying, “John, I hope they give you hell in prison,” he said. “Because you better be glad they found you before I did.”
Police also found the family dog dead in the home.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department listed Walston’s charges as:
- Two counts of premeditated murder
- One count of sexual assault on a victim under 12
- One count of arson
- One count of animal cruelty
Walston is being held without bond in Escambia County Jail. He is scheduled for his first court on November 26.
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[Feature Photo via Escambia County SO]
