Update: 16-year-old wanted for setting Senoia fire
By JOHN A. WINTERS
john@newnan.com
A 16-year-old Senoia boy is wanted for intentionally setting his house on fire late Sunday while his family slept.
No one was injured in the blaze, which was confined to one bedroom but did cause moderate damage to the residence.
"Wyatt should be considered as suicidal and has had made threats to rob local convenience stores in order to obtain more jail time," according to a lookout notice issued by the sheriff's office. Wyatt is 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighs 170 pounds and has hazel eyes.
Major Jimmy Yarbrough with the Coweta County Sheriff's Office said Wyatt "intentionally set his bedroom on fire to destroy the house ... he knew his parents were in the house and he fled out the window after barricading the door."
The major said his office already has talked with the Coweta Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office and will treat Wyatt as an adult.
"He is still in hiding," Yarbrough said Monday afternoon.
About 20 firefighters with the Coweta County Fire Department responded to the single family residence in the Senoia area of eastern Coweta County just before midnight Sunday.
"Upon arrival, Engine 10 reported 'one room and contents on fire' and was advised that a 16-year-old boy may still be inside," said Assistant Chief Jeff Denney with the Coweta County Fire Department. "Crews searched the structure and reported that the minor was not in the house and suppressed the fire."
No residents or firefighters were injured in the blaze, and firefighters remained on-scene until about 4:30 a.m. Monday putting out hot spots.
"The fire was contained to the room of origin and that room sustained moderate to heavy fire damage and remaining rooms suffered heat and smoke damage, the assistant chief said.
Anyone with information should call the Coweta sheriff's office at 770-252-1502 and ask for Investigator John McIntyre, extension 8250.
