A tragic fire that claimed the life of a man well-known amongst local sports circles last December has now turned into a murder case, with the man’s own son now charged with the crime.
According to DeKalb County Sheriff Patrick Ray, authorities acted on the case last Thursday through a juvenile petition. “We took out petitions on a 15-year-old male. The petitions are for first degree murder and aggravated arson,” Sheriff Ray said. The case involved an arson case that claimed the life of 43-year-old Edward Layne “Big Ed” Lemons.
Though Sheriff Ray would not identify the defendant, local media have identified him as 15-year-old Alex Lemons, a freshman at DCHS. Lemons was 14 when the alleged crime occurred. Lemons turned himself in at the DeKalb County Jail after charges were handed down.
Reading from the juvenile petition, Sheriff Ray said, “On or about December 7, 2021, this juvenile did knowingly and intentionally set a residential fire located at 5056 Jacobs Pillar Road, Smithville, TN, which resulted in the death of his father, Edward Lemons,”
“He was picked up this evening (Thursday) and we had a transport order that was signed by the Juvenile Judge, Bratten Cook, II. He is being housed in Cookeville at the detention center until his first court date on Monday, when it will be determined whether to hold him in custody or release him to a guardian,” Sheriff Ray explained.
“We believe he intentionally set the fire with an accelerant,” Ray continued. “We have gathered numerous items of evidence that were sent off to crime labs and those things support our case,” Ray continued.
“The Fire Division of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has played a crucial role in the investigation. There were accelerant detecting dogs that were used at the scene, as well as physical evidence collected at the scene,” added Sheriff Ray. He would not discuss a possible motive in the case.
“This has been an investigation that has taken some time to do. This is a sad situation involving a family that is highly thought of by this community,” said Sheriff Ray.
Authorities say that at on Tuesday, December 7, at 8:02 p.m., E-911 dispatchers received a call reporting a house fire at 5056 Jacobs Pillar Road. Main Station Engine 59, Blue Springs Engine 69, Belk Engine 66, Cookeville Highway Engine 61, and Liberty Engine 65 with the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department rushed to the scene, along with deputies with the DeKalb Sheriff’s Department and a unit with DeKalb EMS.
Upon arrival firefighters found the split-level home with fire engulfing the lower area of the structure. There was also a report of a person trapped inside. Fire crews worked to contain the blaze, trying to keep the fire from spreading to the upper bedrooms, where the victim was believed to be located. Despite firefighters’ best efforts, they were unable to reach the man in time.
Officials say Edward Lemons was discovered in the bedroom, apparently succumbing to smoke inhalation.
A Tennessee Bureau of Investigation fire investigator responded to the scene to investigate the cause of the blaze.
At the scene of the fire, a crying Alex Lemons hugged a witness and said, “My dad is still in there.”
He also told the witness, “Dad told me to take the dogs out, so I did, and when I was coming back it just went up in flames. He tried to get out that window,” and pointed to a small second floor window, “But he couldn’t.”
“What happened?” the witness asked.
Lemons replied, “I don’t know. Why did this have to happen to us?”
After the blaze, an account at First Bank in Smithville, was set up in Alex Lemon’s name, reportedly raising thousands of dollars through donations.
When asked about the fund raising account, Sheriff Ray said that they have no authority over the funds. “That money, a judge could decide what to do with it. That is a civil matter.”
The case is being investigated jointly between the DeKalb Sheriff’s Department, the TBI, and the District Attorney.
