(Adair Co.) An Orient man has been arrested on a warrant charging him with Reckless Use of Fire/Explosives/Destructive Devices and three counts of Animal Neglect with Serious Injury or Death following a February house fire.
Ansley Matthew Page, 33, was charged on Feb. 20. Bond was set at $15,000 cash or surety. He posted bond and was released the following day.
According to authorities, the Adair County Dispatch Center received a report of a structure fire at 411 E. Division Street in Orient at 6:41 p.m. on Feb. 12. The Orient Fire Department and Greenfield Fire Department responded.
While crews were working the fire, Page arrived at the lobby of the Adair County Sheriff’s Office and turned himself in, telling dispatch he had set his house on fire. He was held at the jail pending the investigation.
During the investigation, Page’s wife told authorities he had made suicidal statements earlier that day and had instructed her to take their children to her sister’s home. Prior to the fire, Page called 911 and reported that his wife had kidnapped his son.
Investigators say Page later admitted in a voice message to his wife that he placed “like eight Scentsy’s” on a couch and left the residence. He then told her to check home cameras; when she did, she observed a fire in the living room and called 911. Authorities also received screenshots from Page’s Facebook account stating, “My house is on fire and I did it. My brain is broken.”
During the fire investigation, three deceased cats were found inside the residence.
