Flare used to start deadly Fostoria fire
3 charged in alleged arson started on porch
5/30/2014FOSTORIA — A woman accused of the house arson that killed two people and injured one used a railroad flare to start the fire, authorities said.
Shey Weiker, 31, of 151 Taft Blvd., one of three suspects arrested in the case, threw a lit railroad flare toward the porch of 614 S. Poplar St., early Monday morning “with the intentions of causing a fire,” according to complaints filed in Fostoria Municipal Court by Fostoria police.
Killed in the 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.
She has since been released, hospital officials said Thursday night.
The women were visiting from the Ohio School for the Deaf in Columbus, authorities said. Family members said Mr. Marker was hearing-impaired and partially blind.
Timothy Hall, 20, of 126 Findlay St. and Charles Schaeffer, 44, also of 151 Taft Blvd., were arrested and charged in connection with the early Monday house fire.
Mr. Schaeffer showed Ms. Weiker how to light the flare, and Mr. Hall assisted in hiding evidence by throwing the strike cap from the flare into the sewer system in the 100 block of Taft Boulevard, the court documents allege.
Ms. Weiker was 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 in lieu of bond pending their next court appearance Tuesday.
Authorities on Thursday would not say whether the autopsies had been performed on the victims. Dr. Mark Akers, the Seneca County coroner, could not be reached for comment.
The fire was under investigation by the state fire marshal’s office, which released no additional information Thursday.
Fostoria is about 35 miles southeast of Toledo.
— Mike Sigov