House Fire
Published 12:00 am Friday, March 19, 2010
By Billy Davis
and Rupert Howell
A mobile home fire in west Panola County is being investigated for arson and a nearby home invasion and assault on a teenager has been proven false according to the Panola County Sheriffs Department.
Sheriff Otis Griffin said Thursday that the teenager confessed to falsely reporting the home invasion and assault and has been admitted to a Memphis hospital for treatment.
“The child herself staged the whole thing,” Griffin said.
The arson investigation is under way and should be concluded by next week, said Gerald White, a Panola deputy sheriff who is also fire investigator.
No arrests have been made.
White said he has asked for assistance from the state fire marshal to look into the house fire on Lemaster Road.
White said arson is suspected after firefighters on the scene noticed the front door was kicked in. Some items in the home were missing, he said.
The fire started in the living room, the investigator said.