By Jeff Lehr
jlehr@joplinglobe.com
CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — A rural Carl Junction man is facing multiple charges in the alleged Thursday afternoon torching of his trailer home and vehicle.
John Allen Hays, 27, was arrested after the 12:30 p.m. fire on Kenworth Lane, northeast of Carl Junction. Hays was held overnight at the Jasper County Jail and charged Friday with second-degree arson, second-degree domestic assault and driving while intoxicated.
Jasper County sheriff’s deputies and Carl Junction firefighters responded to the scene of the fire, which authorities say was preceded by an alleged domestic disturbance involving Hays and his wife. Hays is accused of crashing the couple’s sport-utility vehicle into a corner of their trailer home after angrily “cutting doughnuts” with the vehicle in front of the home.
He then allegedly set their trailer home on fire. The Carl Junction Fire Department was unable to save either the home or the vehicle. Both were destroyed by the fire.
Fire Chief Bill Dunn told the Globe he believes Hays’ wife fled to a neighbor’s home in the middle of her husband’s actions, and the fire caused no injuries. But investigators believe the fire was set intentionally, Dunn said.
The sheriff’s department did not return calls Friday seeking more information on the incident.
