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Investigation continues in fatal barn fire

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By Ed Richter, Staff Writer Updated 9:02 PM Monday, December 14, 2009

LEBANON — Although criminal intent was ruled out in the fatal Dec. 5 barn fire at the Warren County Fairgrounds, criminal charges could still be filed, fire officials said.

Several horse owners have recently questioned why arson was ruled out before a fire investigation was finished.

“Though no evidence of the crime of arson was found inside the barn, the investigation is ongoing and we are still looking into the circumstances that led to the fire,” said Shane Cartmill, spokesman for Division of State Fire Marshal. “Criminal charges are still possible, but we will not confirm at this time that anything illegal occurred. It remains an open and ongoing investigation.”

Cartmill said there is limited information available to be released because the investigation remains ongoing.

The fire claimed the lives of two veteran grooms, Ronnie Williams and James “Turtle” Edwards. There were 43 harness racing horses and two miniature horses that also perished in the Barn 16 fire. The Warren County Coroner’s Office has not officially identified the victims as of today, Dec. 14, and has requested DNA tests be made on the victims.

Since the Dec. 5 fire, Cartmill confirmed the State Fire Marshal’s code enforcement bureau has checked several Ohio horse tracks and fairgrounds for compliance with the Ohio Fire Code.

“Looking at the barns in Lebanon is part of the ongoing investigation,” Cartmill said. “Checking the other barns throughout the state of Ohio is something that we are doing as part of our ongoing and everyday duty to check for compliance of the Ohio Fire Code as it applies to each individual structure and situation. We have looked at other barns since the incident and we will continue to do so.”

In a related development, a group of area horsemen have requested the assistance of Cincinnati attorney Stan Chesley to investigate the incident.

A spokeswoman for Chesley’s Cincinnati office confirmed he is looking into the matter “for investigative purposes at this time.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4504 or erichter@coxohio.com.

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