Arkansas Blog: Hot story UPDATE

Blog reader CS alerts me to an out-of-the-ordinary house fire story on Channel 4.

A house at 43 Chenal Circle burned last night.

It happened around 1:45 Friday morning... Fire officials say the fire started at the back of the house.

They say a man was inside when the fire started, but was able to make it out. According to the police report, the owner, 31-year-old Aaron Jones, was asleep in his home when a man woke him up and pointed a black semi automatic gun at him.

Jones' stated his eyes and mouth were duct taped shut, and hands and feet bound. He states moments later he could smell smoke. Jones' was able to free himself and call 911 from a neighbors house.

The house is listed for sale at $1.8 million. It's shown above from the listing page in happier days. According to Arkansas Business, Jones (pictured) -- a lawyer with Spears and Jones of Benton -- and his wife Abigail bought the 4,685-square-foot house in 2005 for $1.6 million. "Jones said what attracted him to the three-bedroom home were the antique fixtures, the Baccarat crystal chandelier and the limestone columns."

The Fire Department said the house was a total loss in the fire, called in at 1:28 a.m. A spokesman said evidence was found that the fire was set in two different places on the ground floor. According to the Fire Department spokesman, Jones told fire investigators that the intruder he encountered was male and that there were perhaps others. A police report says there were two intruders who taped Jones. I've left phone and e-mail messages for Jones.

Jones is a land developer in Saline County. He landed on the Arkansas Business 40 under 40 list, too. He hosted a trip for Bryant aldermen that stirred up a bit of controversy in February.

UPDATE: Arkansas Business adds some financial details. The home has been for sale for almost a year and has been marked down from about $2.2 million. AB reports finding $1.88 million in debt on the house, including a note for $430,000 to the previous owner. That note was payable May 5 and records do not indicate it has been paid, AB also reported.

Police statement on jump. I'm told further that when police arrived, Jones was still bound, his hands in front of him. He had "hopped" to a neighbor's house and rang the bell. She looked outside and, seeing a man with bound hands, immediately called 911, Lt. Terry Hastings said. The episode is being viewed as a home intrusion and arson, Hastings said. He said Jones had been very cooperative in working with police. In answer to a question posed by a reader, Hastings said Jones' wife and child were at the family's vacation home in Florida.

LRPD RELEASE

Officers and members of the Little Rock Fire Department responded to a home intrusion robbery in which the house had been set on fire at 43 Chenal Circle.

Aaron Jones, owner of the residence, was found with his hands and feet bound with duct tape. He stated that he was in bed when a male subject entered his home and pointed a black semi automatic gun at him.

This subject then duct taped Jones' eyes and mouth and told him not to move. Jones stated that there was at least one more person in the house, but he did not see him. He heard the subjects moving throughout his house for several minutes. Jones advised that after he couldn't hear the subjects anymore, he began to smell smoke.

He was able to remove the tape from his eyes and mouth and he exited the residence and went to a neighbors to call police. Jones stated that from the sound of the male subject's voice, he appeared to be a white male. He was approximately six feet tall and 200 pounds, and sounded like an older person.

A gas can was located in the house which was found to be the cause of the fire. At this point it is unknown if anything was taken from the victim or his home. No arrest at this time. This incident is still under investigation

Comments

Any chance that Sam Weems is a memberof that law firm?

Posted by: Cassandra | May 30, 2008 09:13 AM

4,685-square-foot house ..... 3 Bedrooms? Seems odd

I would not be surprised if we didn't hear more on this story as the real story unfolds.

Maybe not, but it just seems a little suspicious.

Posted by: Earl | May 30, 2008 09:26 AM

I bet the insurance investigators take a closer look at this one...

Posted by: OPRA | May 30, 2008 09:35 AM

Ohhhhhh, boy. I'm thinking I know how this 'un's gonna turn out, but will keep my thoughts to myself.

Posted by: durangokid | May 30, 2008 10:18 AM

Any chance that Sam Weems is a memberof that law firm?<<

Surely you meant "was."

Posted by: L.Wood | May 30, 2008 10:28 AM

Easier to start a fire than wait for a tornado.

Posted by: mudturtle | May 30, 2008 10:41 AM

Speaking of Hot Story Stuff... check out the "rated" hot girls of NWA. Likely won't be around for Open Mic Friday so this is my early entry...

Posted by: L.Wood | May 30, 2008 10:44 AM

Suffice it to say that this story is not making a lot of sense on any of a number of levels.

Posted by: bopbamboom | May 30, 2008 10:45 AM

OK, let's review the bidding here. Where was the wife? Was she out of town? Or does she now live elsewhere because they are getting a divorce? Or is there another explanation for her absence? What happened to the alarm system? A house like this must have an alarm system. Was it turned on? Does the system include smoke detection? Was the system inactive because of nonpayment the monthly fee? Anyone else want to pose a few questions?

Posted by: Pavel | May 30, 2008 11:11 AM

Looks like the Clampett place in Bever-lee.

Posted by: hugh mann | May 30, 2008 11:22 AM

Dang, L.wood...I'm almost speechless. Guess I'm happy that so many women are able to appreciate their inner beauty...and exhibit such confidence. Guess I'm torn between scared and proud. Go sisters!

Posted by: zelda | May 30, 2008 12:10 PM

Oh yeah...have fun wherever you won't be blogging from. (That's a very scary sentence ha.)

Posted by: zelda | May 30, 2008 12:13 PM

See http://MySaline.com/forum/topic/show?id=873760%3ATopic%3A62430 for more on Aaron Jones and Saline County Realty.

Shelli in Benton

Posted by: MySaline.com | May 30, 2008 12:29 PM

As an old insurance adjuster, I can tell you that the amount of money involved alone will qualify this for some serious investigation. Also, in these times, the financial situation of Mr. Jones, a real estate developer, would have to be another red flag.

One sure thing was whether they had a pet and if the pet was in the house at the time of the fire. Most people can't let their pets burn alive, but then, those are the amateurs.

Posted by: GUMM | May 30, 2008 12:46 PM

Them old $1.2 million adjustable rate mortgages go to adjusting their selfs upward and a man will go to hallucinatin' all sorts of things.

Posted by: Mannish Boy | May 30, 2008 01:31 PM

At least the Clampett's has some grass & landscaping in front of their house...... what is with this obsession in AR Re. covering everthing with ashphalt ?!?!?!

Posted by: CommonSenseIsntVeryCommon | May 30, 2008 01:33 PM

Pavel, good questions, indeed. I have some friends out there, so I can tell you that all houses out there have security systems with fire detectors. And note that this house is also gated. On many occasions I have noticed a private security car parked at the entrance to Chenal Circle after dark.

Interesting report on KUAR radio at noon. Terry Hastings with LRPD said that Jones had his hands bound IN FRONT OF HIM with duct tape. If you really wanted to bind someone, you would of course do it behind their back. Hastings also said that this is a very unusual set of circumstances - he could not remember any case like it. He said that the LRPD are looking into this very closely and carefully.

Posted by: citizen | May 30, 2008 01:53 PM

My understanding is that the wife and children were out of town in Florida.

Posted by: Wyle E. Coyote | May 30, 2008 02:15 PM

I hope no one is thinking Mr. Jones might have set the fire himself. He is an attorney, and member of the Arkansas Bar. Any lawyer would know burning ones house is illegal.

You can tell from the real estate photos, the house was full of Oriential Rugs. You might suspect he used gasoline to burn the house, but a 6,000 sq foot house full of Persian Rugs will create an inferno.

Wonder, if they are taking up a collection for Mr Jones, I have an Orange jumpsuit that will fit him just fine.

Posted by: succubus_demon | May 30, 2008 03:39 PM

Instead of "smelling a rat" or questioning someone's immediate remembrance of events after something like this, maybe you guys should try saying a prayer. No matter what people think of others, a devastating thing like this and an attempt on another's life isn't funny. He's my cousin and even if we don't talk, I am still praying for him.

Posted by: alizaj | May 30, 2008 05:13 PM

Arkansas Blog

Hot story UPDATE

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