Arrest Warrants Issued For Domestic Assault, Arson Regarding Residential Fire in Deepwater

HENRY COUNTY, Mo – According to Henry County Sheriff Sheriff Kent Oberkrom, felony arrest warrants have been issued in connection with a domestic disturbance that escalated into a residence fire which was intentionally set by a suspect on Saturday morning in the City of Deepwater.

Around 11:30 a.m., on Saturday, April 18th, Deepwater Police Chief Robert Vick was contacted by the Henry County 9-1-1 Center after receiving several telephone calls regarding an explosion within a residence in the 100 block of North 4th Street, Deepwater. Additional information obtained by the 9-1-1 Center from the numerous calls reported that a female subject had fled the residence screaming, also there had been a person run from the residence in flames and had fallen to the ground and had been assisted in extinguishing the flames from their body.

Members of the Deepwater Volunteer Fire Department were on-scene several minutes after the initial calls were received and they immediately requested mutual aid assistance from the Clinton Fire Department for the structure fire. The Montrose Volunteer Fire Department was later requested to respond for additional assistance. Police Chief Vick requested the assistance of the Henry County Sheriff’s Office and the Missouri State Fire Marshall’s Office to assist with his investigation.

An ambulance from Golden Valley Memorial Hospital responded to the scene to provide medical aid to the female victim for burns that she sustained during the incident. The victim was not transported from the scene for additional medical treatment.

The investigation at the scene determined that an incendiary device was initially detonated within the house and a flammable liquid had also been introduced within and upon the residence, as well as upon both parties involved in the disturbance. Allegedly the male resident, during a domestic dispute with his wife, detonated the device causing the ensuing fire. Prior to the arrival of emergency services to the scene, the male resident fled the residence on foot. Chief Vick and Deputy Jeramiah Sullivan searched the immediate area for the male resident with negative results.

At around 12:45 p.m., Deputy Sullivan and Trooper Tyler Wright of the Missouri State Highway Patrol located the male resident and suspect at an address in the Brownington area on SE Hwy BB. The male suspect was suffering from severe burns to several areas of his body. An ambulance responded to the address to provide medical aid to the male suspect who was initially transported to Golden Valley Memorial Hospital, then later to the KU Medical Center Burn Unit, due to the severity of burns which he sustained.

Arrest warrants were issued for Curtis Christensen, age 46, of Deepwater, for the Class A Felony of 1st Degree Domestic Assault as a prior domestic offender, as well as the Class B Felony of 1st Degree Arson. The bond on these warrants is set at $250,000 cash only. An additional probation violation warrant was issued for the Class C Felony of Abuse / Neglect of a Child, with a bond set at $25,000 cash only.

Arrest Warrants Issued For Domestic Assault, Arson Regarding Residential Fire in Deepwater