Father Sets His House On Fire With His Daughter Inside

[Paynesville, Minnesota]

On July 23rd, 2019, a father and daughter, John (48) and Jamey (22), got into an argument after John asked Jamey to drive him to the hardware store and she refused.

In the midst of words being exchanged, Jamey mentioned moving out. This news infuriated John because Jamey was the one paying all of the bills. In spite of her, he started drenching the house in gasoline. He also poured it all over Jamey’s four kittens that her friends say were one of the most important things in her life. In fact, just one hour before the argument, Jamey posted videos on her Facebook where she was playing with them.

As Jamey struggled with depression, her “babies” were always there to comfort her.

The gasoline that soaked the innocent animals also slightly landed on Jamey.

In a panic, she called 911 and explained to operator that her father was setting the house ablaze and had drenched her kittens in gasoline. Then the fire started to quickly spread on the property. The 911 call recorded Jamey screaming for help and saying she needed to save her kittens who were now on fire. All of her concern was focused on saving her animals, unfortunately causing her to become trapped in the house. The phone call with the operator ended up disconnecting.

One officer arrived at the scene of the fire and explained that the house had thick, black smoke billowing out of it. They could hear Jamey’s petrified, muffled screams, but couldn’t gain entry in the home.

In a last ditch effort to save her life, Jamey ran into the bathroom, climbed in the bathtub, and turned on the shower water. John was seen yelling into the home through a broken window before being detained by officers.

When the fire was tamed, firefighters found Jamey’s body in the bathtub. She ultimately passed away from intense smoke inhalation.

John Newport was sentenced to 18 years in prison for one felony count of second-degree murder.