Lakeland man lit house on fire while his roommates were inside
Share this @internewscast.com

Eddie Lee Thomas, who has an extensive criminal history, had served 17 years in prison for murdering his wife back in 1986.

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — A man from Lakeland, known for his “extensive criminal history,” has been arrested once more. According to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, the man is accused of setting a house ablaze while his housemates were asleep.

The suspect, 69-year-old Eddie Lee Thomas, previously served a 17-year prison sentence for killing his wife in front of their four children in 1986, as Sheriff Judd explained during a press briefing on Friday. In addition, Thomas was labeled a sex offender in 2007 following an arrest for sexually assaulting a minor aged between 12 and 16.

Now, he is charged with five counts of attempted first-degree murder and arson.

The suspected arson took place on Thursday, May 15, as deputies reacted to reports about a fire at a residence on Dawn Heights Drive in Lakeland, according to a statement from the sheriff’s office.

Deputies arrived to find that five people were in the burning home, with two of them suffering serious injuries. Through their investigation, detectives determined that Thomas, who lived at the home, was responsible for setting the fire.

“Earlier that morning, at approximately 3:15 a.m., Thomas entered another resident’s bedroom and asked for a ride,” deputies said. “When the request was denied, he then asked for jumper cables to ‘give him a jump.'”

When the roommate refused Thomas’ request due to the time, they reportedly noticed that the 69-year-old “was holding a plastic milk jug containing an unknown liquid.”

“During this period of time… (the roommate) gets up to go to the bathroom and he sees Eddie wandering around the house,” Judd said.

The roommate claimed to have heard “splashing noises” before smelling kerosene and hearing a noise similar to a fire being ignited, the sheriff added.

“What we know now, he was splashing accelerant in front of every bedroom down the hallway and tried to create a fire barrier so they could not run out of the house,” Judd said.

One of the roommates required emergency surgery for their injuries, the sheriff’s office said. Two others reportedly witnessed Thomas taking off in his Red Chevrolet truck.

The home was a total loss, and on May 20, deputies eventually found and arrested Thomas.

“This man’s dangerous,” Judd said. “Our goal is that he never takes a breath of air outside of prison, but I want to underscore that he tried to murder five people that night.”

The full presser can be viewed below:

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
When does Yom Kippur start in 2025? What do you say on Yom Kippur?

2025 Yom Kippur Start Date and Greetings Explained

Yom Kippur is a somber holiday, so you shouldn’t tell someone “Happy…
Michigan church shooter's romance history emerges as suspect's father apologizes to victims' families

Romantic Past of Michigan Church Shooter Revealed Amid Father’s Apology to Victims’ Families

GRAND BLANC, Mich. – The father of the man responsible for driving…
Carnival ride malfunction

Carnival Ride Malfunction Leaves Passengers Hanging at School Event: Watch the Video

A Carnival ride in California malfunctioned during a high school event, causing…
Broadview ICE facility protest: Neurodivergent man Paul Ivery released from custody pending trial after arrest at detention center

Neurodivergent Activist Paul Ivery Released After Arrest at Broadview ICE Facility Protest

CHICAGO (WLS) — Another individual among the group of five facing charges…
Anti-Defamation League retires glossary of extremist groups after backlash for including Charlie Kirk's TPUSA

ADL withdraws extremist groups glossary following criticism for listing Charlie Kirk’s TPUSA

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) recently decided to pull its entire “Glossary of…
MTG Demands Influencers Register Under FARA

MTG Calls for Influencers to Sign Up Under FARA Regulations

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (MTG) called for all social media influencers paid…
18-year-old charged with murder in Jacksonville shooting

Jacksonville Shooting: 18-Year-Old Faces Murder Charges

JSO charges 18-year-old Andre Thomas with murder for the shooting death of…
Suspected blue city gunmen kill innocent girl in revenge shooting at home: sheriff

Sheriff reports: Alleged gunmen from blue city fatally shoot innocent girl in retaliation at residence

A second man is in custody stemming from a San Antonio mass…
What happens now that a government shutdown is underway

Implications of the Current Government Shutdown

Washington is gearing up for what might be an extended federal shutdown…
Oklahoma Gov. Stitt, ICE bust 120 illegal immigrants in highway crackdown, slams Biden border failures

Governor Stitt and ICE Collaborate to Detain 120 Undocumented Immigrants in Highway Operation; Criticize Biden’s Border Policies

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol, working with ICE agents, arrested 120 illegal immigrants…
UVU Professor’s CIA Ties Vanish After Kirk Event

CIA Connections of UVU Professor Disappear Post-Kirk Event

A social media investigation has surfaced claims that a Utah Valley University…
Mother charged with murder after son dies from getting head stuck in car window

Mother Faces Murder Charges After Son Tragically Dies in Car Window Accident

Kandice Grace was arrested after toxicology results show she was high when…