LAKELAND, Fla. (TCN) — A convicted felon who killed his estranged wife and has a long criminal history stands accused of setting a building on fire in an attempt to kill several of his roommates.
According to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, on May 15, deputies responded to a house fire at a group home and learned five residents were inside. Investigators allege 69-year-old Eddie Thomas started the blaze.
Per Judd, earlier that morning, shortly after 3 a.m., Thomas asked one of the residents for a ride, but the roommate said no. Thomas reportedly asked for jumper cables to “give him a jump,” but the resident also declined. The suspect was allegedly holding a plastic milk jug of liquid at the time.
Shortly after, Thomas’ roommate purportedly said he smelled gas followed by a “boom.” According to the sheriff’s office, the resident observed flames in the hallway. The victim, who uses a walker, tried to escape but fell, so he crawled to the exit and sustained burns to his hands and feet as a result. He was later transported to a hospital for his injuries.
Another victim was asleep at the time but heard someone yelling about the fire. He allegedly tried to escape through the hallway but had to crawl out of his window instead.
According to the sheriff’s office, a third victim woke up to yelling and ran out of his bedroom. He reportedly fell over one of his roommates but survived.
The fourth victim allegedly went to use the restroom in the middle of the night when he saw Thomas walking around the house but said that was “common.” The resident reportedly said he heard splashing nosies, smelled kerosene, and then he heard a suspected igniting sound before someone shouted “fire!” The fourth victim purportedly couldn’t see the front door because of the smoke, and he fell while running. When he made it outside the house, the sheriff’s office said he noticed a fire going from a tree to the front yard and into the house.
A fifth victim underwent emergency surgery and hasn’t been interviewed.
According to authorities, all of the victims said they smelled gasoline and claimed the hallway floor was “wet and slippery.”
Investigators located six accelerant alert points and two pour patterns. According to Judd, Thomas poured accelerant outside each bedroom to prevent anyone from getting out.
Thomas faces charges of arson and five counts of attempted murder.
In his press conference, Judd noted Thomas’ extensive criminal history, beginning in 1975 when he was arrested for burglary and grand theft. In the years following, he had been arrested for probation violation multiple times.
According to Judd, in May 1986, Thomas was arrested for burglary and second-degree murder. The sheriff said Thomas went into his estranged wife’s home and fatally shot her in front of her kids. He was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 17 years in prison and five years probation.
In 2007, Judd noted that Thomas was arrested for sexually battery with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The following year, he pleaded no contest to lewd and lascivious contact with a victim between 12 and 16. Thomas had to register as a sex offender and spent time behind bars until 2020. He violated his probation again in 2021.
In a statement, Judd said, “This was a deliberate and dangerous act that put multiple lives at risk. Eddie Thomas showed a complete disregard for human life yet again when he set this fire, knowing the victims were inside. Thanks to our detectives, we have him in custody, and justice will be served.”
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