Site of four murders burns in weekend fire; Victim’s son facing arson charge

A Bartholomew County man is under arrest, accused of burning down the Waynesville home where his mother and three others were murdered on Mother’s Day weekend, more than five years ago.

33 year old Daniel Burton of Waynesville was arrested on a charge of arson after the Saturday morning incident.

Bartholomew County deputies report that firefighters were called to the home in the 2700 block of East Main Cross in Waynesville at just before 7 a.m. Saturday morning. Firefighters who spoke with Burton found out that another home, in the 2600 block of East Main Cross was also on fire.

Our news-gathering partners at The Republic are reporting that is the same Daniel Burton who is the son of Katheryn M. Burton who died in the second home in May of 2013 along with Thomas W. Smith, Aaron T. Cross, and Shawn L. Burton. Daniel Burton was the one who found the murder scene and the bodies, which happened while he was at work.

Sheriff Matt Myers told the newspaper that Daniel Burton admitted to starting both fires, saying that he was trying to get rid of evil spirits.

Samuel Sallee was convicted of the four murders in 2015 and is serving four consecutive life terms without parole.