By David Dore
Leominster Champion
LEOMINSTER — A Holden man is accused of threatening to kill his aunt and setting her garage on fire in what authorities are calling a case of arson.
Evan Kelley, 32, of Holden was arraigned Wednesday, June 7, in Leominster District Court on charges of arson, attempted murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (a plate), assault and battery on a person over the age of 60, threatening to commit a crime (murder) and malicious damage to a motor vehicle.
Kelley is being held without bail at the Worcester County House of Correction in West Boylston pending a dangerousness hearing slated for Monday, June 12.
The fire at 24 Juniper Lane in Holden was called in to the Wachusett Regional Communications Center at 7:32 p.m. Tuesday, June 6, according to authorities. The fire, which went to two alarms, had started in a garage and spread to the attached house. It took crews from Holden, Boylston, Leicester, Paxton, Rutland, Sterling, West Boylston and Worcester about two hours to extinguish the fire.
An investigation determined the fire was intentionally set, according to authorities.
Holden Police Detective Sgt. Evan Parker wrote in his report that the homeowner, 69-year-old Debra Shea, was sitting in the front yard next to her house with a cut on her forehead when police arrived. She told officers that Kelley, her nephew, injured her when he threw plates and other ceramic items at her. Shea said Kelley told her “I’m going to (expletive) kill you” before he poured gasoline in the garage, ignited it and drove away.
Kelley and his vehicle were found a short distance away at his mother’s home, and he was placed under arrest after at first attempting to drive away.
“While handcuffing him, I observed burns to his wrist and forearm area,” Parker stated.
According to Parker, Kelley’s mother, Pam Kelley, told authorities Kelley lived “off and on” with Shea. Kelley told his mother he had a fight with Shea and “knocked over” a can of gasoline in the garage, the report stated.
Parker added that Pam Kelley “then stated that Evan told her that he lit a cigarette, and intentionally threw it on the gasoline, causing the garage to immediately go up in flames.”
Kelley’s 17-year-old daughter observed what happened, Parker wrote, but was in shock and could not answer any questions.
