Cops: Man kills two young children and left their bodies to burn after setting home on fire
A night of intense and horrifying violence that went down in the Grand Oak Mobile Home Park located in Florida’s greater Pensacola area, ended with murder, arson and rape charges for 27-year-old John Henry Walston, Jr., accused of killing two young children and setting his home ablaze with the boys’ lifeless bodies still inside.
According to Fox-10 News, investigators with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office (ECSO) say the early-morning fire on Friday, November 7, in the 5900 block of Flaxman Street was not an accident. According to ECSO, evidence shows the children — identified as 9-year-old Vayden Orum and 7-year-old Rayden Smith — had been killed before the fire was set.
People shared a statement by Sheriff Chip Simmons who said that one of the children had also suffered a sexual assault prior to the killings. Walston is accused of assaulting one of the minors, murdering both children, then igniting the fire and fleeing the scene.
Fire-rescue crews arrived on-scene just before 1 a.m., finding the single-wide mobile home engulfed in flames. Once the fire was suppressed, the remains of the two children and a deceased dog were located inside the trailer. Walston, and the mother of the two murdered children, suffered fire-related injuries and were taken to hospital, according to Fox News.
The trailer belonged to Walston; and he escaped after setting the blaze. Tyler Smith, the father of Rayden Smith and stepfather of Vayden Orum, spoke to WEAR News saying that the home belonged to Walston, who he’s known for a few years.
Witnesses say the children’s mother ran into the trailer while it was on fire. She was the other adult (besides Walston) taken to a local hospital to be treated for her injuries. “She went into the trailer trying to get them. That’s a mother’s love,” said neighbor John Wenzel. “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 too hot. They finally got her out of there.” ~ ABC-13 News
Smith added that his two children were staying over at Walston’s trailer during the incident.
John Henry Walston, Jr. was arrested and now faces multiple charges:
- Two counts of premeditated murder
- One count of sexual assault on a victim under 12
- One count of arson
- Additional charges related to the death of the animal inside the home WLOS+1
Walston is being held without bond. His first court appearance is scheduled for November 26, according to WLOS.
Sheriff Simmons summed up the sentiment: “I don’t know what else I can say about this terrible event except for please hug your children.” The sheriff’s office labeled the act “heartbreaking and senseless.”
For more on this terrible and heartbreaking tragedy, see the video accompanying this article.
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(Cover photo of Henry Walston, Jr.: Image credit, ECSO via YouTube)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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