POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A Lakeland man was arrested after deputies say he set a house on fire while his roommates were in bed on May 15.
During a press conference on Friday, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said that around 3:15 a.m., Eddie Lee Thomas, 69, woke up his roommate in a group home on Dawn Heights Drive to ask him if he would drive him into town. His roommate denied his request and went back to bed, but later, while walking to the bathroom, he said he saw Thomas wandering through the house.
The roommate said Thomas was known to wander the home in the middle of the night, so he didn't find it unusual. But while attempting to go back to sleep, he said he smelled gas and heard a splashing noise. Deputies would later find out the noise was Thomas pouring accelerant in front of the bedroom doors to create a "fire barrier" to prevent the victims from escaping.
"The dude is as mean as a snake," Judd said.
Judd said two victims, including one using a walker, tried to run through the flames. The victim using the walker slipped and fell on the accelerant, leaving him to crawl on his hands and knees to the door. He was taken to a local hospital and then transferred to another hospital in Bradenton for burn care.
Another victim crawled out of the window when he was unable to get through the fire. Two more victims fell as they were running to the front door.
PCSO said a fifth victim could not be interviewed because he required emergency surgery for his injuries.
PCSO located Thomas, who had fled the scene, days later. He was arrested and charged with five counts of attempted first-degree murder and arson.
"This was a deliberate and dangerous act that put multiple lives at risk. Eddie Thomas showed a complete disregard for human life yet again when he set this fire, knowing the victims were inside," Judd said.
The home was declared a total loss.
Judd said Thomas has an extensive criminal history, including the murder of his wife in 1986, for which he served 17 years in prison. He was then arrested again in 2007 for lewd and lascivious battery on a child between 12 and 16.
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