Railroad flare used to start fatal Fostoria blaze
5/29/2014
Flowers and a flag are in front of 614 Poplar St., in Fostoria where 2 people died in a fire on Monday.
FOSTORIA — Authorities said a woman who has been charged with causing a fatal fire Monday used a railroad flare to start the blaze.
According to documents filed in Fostoria Municipal Court, authorities say that one of the suspects who was arrested in the case, Shey Weiker, 31, of 151 Taft Blvd., threw a lit railroad flare toward the porch of 614 S. Poplar St., “with the intentions of causing a fire.”
Killed in the early morning fire were Danny Marker, 48, who lived at the residence, and Tara-Lynn Vance. Dana D. Weatherhall was injured in the fire and taken to ProMedica Toledo Hospital. The women were visiting from the Ohio School for the Deaf in Columbus, authorities said.
Family members said Danny Marker was hearing-impaired and partially blind.
Timothy Hall, 20, of 126 Findlay St., and Charles Schaeffer, 44, also of of 151 Taft Blvd., were also arrested and charged in connection with the fire, which has been ruled an arson.
Court documents say that Mr. Schaeffer showed Ms. Weiker how to light the flare, and that Mr. Hall assisted in hiding evidence by throwing the strike cap from the flare used to ignite the fire at the residence into the sewer system in the 100 block of Taft Boulevard.
Ms. Weiker has been charged with four counts aggravated arson, two counts aggravated murder, and one count each of attempted aggravated murder and tampering with evidence.
Mr. Schaeffer was charged with four counts complicity to commit aggravated arson, two counts of complicity to commit aggravated murder, and one count of complicity to commit attempted aggravated murder.
Mr. Hall was charged with four counts of complicity to commit aggravated arson, two counts of complicity to commit aggravated murder, and one count each of complicity to commit attempted aggravated murder and complicity to tamper with evidence.
All three are being held in the Seneca County jail and are scheduled to be due back in court Tuesday.