When queried by Baltimore City City Circuit Judge Melissa K. Copeland about the prosecution’s intent to retry James Edwin Barnett, 58, for a triple-fatal arson fire, the unequivocal answer was, “Absolutely!”
Barnett is charged with one count of second-degree arson, three counts each of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter, and five counts of reckless endangerment in connection with the Jan. 24, 2022, fire at 205 S. Stricker Street. Lt. Paul Butrim, Firefighter Kelsey Lacayo, and Lt. Kelsey Sadler from the Baltimore City Fire Department were killed when the building collapsed as they were fighting the blaze.
However, on Oct. 20 after a two week trial a jury deadlocked on the case causing Judge Alan C. Lezerow to declare a mistrial.
State’s Attorney Ivan Bates decried the outcome as “deeply disappointing.”
“Our office will carefully evaluate the next steps and continue to do everything in our power to hold the defendant accountable for the devastating consequences of his alleged actions,” said Bates on a release yesterday.
The State’s Attorney barely missed a beat by refiling the charges during the Oct. 21 hearing.
Earlier multiple witnesses painted a technical picture of how the fire occurred arguing it was deliberately set.
An investigator discussed two previous fires at the property in 2015 and 2016. The first primarily damaged the interior, while the second caused part of the third floor to collapse into the second. Investigators compared that damage with the current scene as they worked to reconstruct the building.
During the investigation, an accelerant-detection dog alerted to the rear bump-out, prompting investigators to obtain a criminal search warrant. They also recovered a red butane lighter from the debris, though not necessarily linked to the blaze.
The prosecutor said their office planned on calling multiple witnesses from three different agencies for the new proceeding. .
Barnett was represented by Jason Ridriguez.
Judge Copeland set a hearing for Nov. 30 to determine next steps in the case.
