Father set fatal fire after arguing with daughter
Published 7:28 pm Thursday, July 25, 2019
PAYNESVILLE — Prosecutors said a Minnesota man set a fire that killed his 22-year-old daughter after the two argued about her plans to move out.
Forty-six-year-old John Newport of Paynesville was charged Thursday with second-degree murder in the death of Jamey Newport. His bail was set at $2 million.
Jamey Newport called dispatchers Tuesday evening and said her father was threatening to start a fire in their mobile home in Paynesville, about 76 miles northwest of Minneapolis.
According to the complaint, John Newport was outside the burning home. Firefighters found his daughter inside. She was pronounced dead at a hospital.
Assistant Stearns County Attorney Kevin Voss said that shortly before the fire, John Newport posted on Facebook that he intended to burn down the home.