FRANK LEWIS

PDT Staff Writer

The mobile home where a Scioto County man was reportedly shot and killed by his wife’s boyfriend on Monday has burned. On Wednesday, the mother of the victim, James Thurman, told the Portsmouth Daily Times, the house had burned on Tuesday night.

A check with the State Fire Marshal’s office confirmed the report.

According to Shane Cartmill, public information officer for the Division of State Fire Marshal, they are continuing their investigation of a mobile home fire at 890 McNamer Brown Road in Lucasville, but investigators say the most likely cause is arson.

The home is the site of a homicide that occurred Monday night. That homicide is being investigated by the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office. In that homicide, Thurman, 33, reportedly walked into a back bedroom where his wife, Anna Thurman, was in bed with Jeff Waller, 24, of the same address.

An apparent love triangle has reportedly resulted in the death of one man and the arrest of another man on a charge of first degree murder. Waller has been charged with one count of murder, a felony of the first degree and tampering with evidence, a felony of the third degree in the death of James A. Thurman.

“The victim, James Thurman, came into the bedroom and kicked the suspect (Waller), without any provocation, at which time, Anna jumped up between the two of them to stop James from further assaulting the suspect,” Scioto County Sheriff Marty V. Donini said. “At which time the suspect grabbed a loaded shotgun and shot the victim in the stomach. He (Waller) apparently left the scene and was walking down the road.”

That is when a deputy saw Waller and confronted him.

A day later the mobile home burned, leading to an investigation, and the determination that it was most likely caused by arson.

Cartmill said a Blue Ribbon Arson Reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for information leading to the identification of the person or persons responsible for the fire. Anyone with information is being asked to call the Division of State Fire Marshal at 1-800-589-2728 or the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office at 740-351-1092.

The mobile home was completely destroyed by the fire.

Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 232, or at flewis@heartlandpublications.com.