MONROE - Green County prosecutors have filed a delinquency petition charging a 16-year-old with arson and felony murder in connection to a house fire that resulted in the death of a Monroe man March 23.
The juvenile's initial appearance in Green County Circuit Court is scheduled for 3 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29, when a plea could be entered.
According to Green County District Attorney Gary Luhman, detectives from the Monroe Police Department and the Wisconsin Department of Justice determined the fire at 2415 16th St. was not accidental.
"The 16-year-old juvenile was identified as having intentionally started it," Luhman said in a news release issued late Monday.
The fire claimed the life of Jeffrey R. Sullivan, 37.
Luhman said an autopsy revealed that Sullivan, who was found in the basement of the house, died from smoke inhalation.
Luhman said a petition seeking to waive the juvenile into adult court has not been filed.
Sullivan died Easter Sunday after a fire was discovered in the basement of his home at about 12:30 a.m. He was able to remove his daughter from her basement bedroom.
Sullivan's wife, Ruth, and children Julia, 16; David, 13; and Levi, 12, were outside the home when Monroe Police officers arrived. They told officers Jeffrey Sullivan was still in the house.
Officers tried to find a way into the home but couldn't because of smoke and flames. Kelley said the officers walked around all sides of the house but weren't able to find a way to get inside.
Monroe firefighters arrived at the scene shortly thereafter and entered the home. They located Sullivan with a thermal imaging camera.
Monroe Deputy Fire Chief Lane Heins said Sullivan was unconscious but breathing when he was located by firefighters.
Sullivan was taken to Monroe Clinic but later died from his injuries.
Julia Sullivan was taken to Monroe Clinic with severe burns, then Med-Flighted to University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison.
The juvenile's initial appearance in Green County Circuit Court is scheduled for 3 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29, when a plea could be entered.
According to Green County District Attorney Gary Luhman, detectives from the Monroe Police Department and the Wisconsin Department of Justice determined the fire at 2415 16th St. was not accidental.
"The 16-year-old juvenile was identified as having intentionally started it," Luhman said in a news release issued late Monday.
The fire claimed the life of Jeffrey R. Sullivan, 37.
Luhman said an autopsy revealed that Sullivan, who was found in the basement of the house, died from smoke inhalation.
Luhman said a petition seeking to waive the juvenile into adult court has not been filed.
Sullivan died Easter Sunday after a fire was discovered in the basement of his home at about 12:30 a.m. He was able to remove his daughter from her basement bedroom.
Sullivan's wife, Ruth, and children Julia, 16; David, 13; and Levi, 12, were outside the home when Monroe Police officers arrived. They told officers Jeffrey Sullivan was still in the house.
Officers tried to find a way into the home but couldn't because of smoke and flames. Kelley said the officers walked around all sides of the house but weren't able to find a way to get inside.
Monroe firefighters arrived at the scene shortly thereafter and entered the home. They located Sullivan with a thermal imaging camera.
Monroe Deputy Fire Chief Lane Heins said Sullivan was unconscious but breathing when he was located by firefighters.
Sullivan was taken to Monroe Clinic but later died from his injuries.
Julia Sullivan was taken to Monroe Clinic with severe burns, then Med-Flighted to University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison.