Fire And Water

"GRAFTON, WV - Authorities say a Grafton man killed himself last week, shortly after his pregnant daughter's boyfriend suffered fatal burns when his house was set on fire.

"Allen Springs, 19, died Thursday at a burn center in Pittsburgh. Taylor County Sheriff Robert Beltner says Springs' house was doused with accelerant and torched Wednesday night.

"John Shears, 42, the father of Springs' pregnant girlfriend, later killed himself at Jennings Randolph Lake in Mineral County. Authorities said they were investigating his involvement in the fire that killed Springs.

"Mineral County Sheriff Craig Fraley says Shears left a letter at a relative's home in Elk Garden, then went to the lake and made calls on his cell phone. Fraley didn't say who received the calls.

"Shears also left notes and belongings on a bench before shooting himself in the head. His vehicle rolled down the lake's boat ramp into 15 feet of water."

From the Charleston Gazette...