Trial in death of firefighter to resume on Monday

By KERRY MCFADDEN

Miami University journalism student

The trial of two men accused of setting a fire that resulted in the death of a Hamilton firefighter is set to resume on Monday, Nov. 13, after a long weekend recess in observance of Veteran's Day.

Lester Parker, 67, and his nephew, Billy Tucker, 50, are charged with aggravated arson and the murder of firefighter Patrick Wolterman. Wolterman, 28, entered Parker's burning house because he thought someone might have been trapped inside. He died after falling through the house’s first floor.

During the trial’s opening statements, prosecuting attorney Michael Gmoser asserted that Parker enlisted Tucker’s help in setting the fire while he was on an anniversary trip to Las Vegas with his wife, and that Tucker agreed in exchange for pills.

Parker was financially pressed in the year leading up to the fire, and there were missing payments on the house’s mortgage. Gmoser says that Parker planned the fire to cash in on the insurance.

Although Parker was in Vegas went the fire was ignited, Gmoser said he is equally responsible.

Prosecuting attorneys called the Parker's neighbors, Hamilton police and fire personnel, investigators, forensic scientists and Parker’s daughters, Cheryl Sullivan and Melissa Lainhart-Jones to the witness stand during testimony last week.

Among police, fire and investigator testimonies, it was revealed that there were remnants of ignitable liquid on five items taken from the home for testing.

Sullivan stated that her father had given her an envelope of important documents before departing for Vegas, and that he told her that important items were in the garage if anything were to happen, after she drove him to the airport.

Jones had previously been held in a Butler County jail, and was being treated by an EMT who had knowledge of Wolterman’s death in the blaze. Jones told the EMT that her father had told her to make it clear that he “never intended for this to happen.”

Parker and Tucker are being defended by attorneys David Washington and Tamara Sack, respectively. Washington discredited his opponents’ witnesses, calling them “pill heads and dope thieves.” Sack told the jury that Parker was not responsible for setting the fire, and that he had gone to a different house to purchase pills that night.

They also moved to discredit Jones as a witness, highlighting that she had been paid over $1,000 by the city of Hamilton since being released from jail. The city had been paying her phone bill and for her to stay in a motel.

The jury is comprised of seven men and five women.

Gmoser expects that the case could go to the jury as early as Monday or Tuesday.

Images (left to right): Butler County prosecutor Michael Gmoser; Defense attorney David Washington; Lester Parker, Billy Tucker.