Hutchinson News – September 27, 2013
A 14-year-old boy was taken into custody Thursday evening on suspicion of deliberately setting a fire to his Hutchinson home that killed his mother and sister.
Sam Vonachen, 14, faces charges of aggravated arson and the murders of Karla Vonachen, 47, and Audrey Vonachen, 11. The Reno County District Attorney’s office said it will file a formal juvenile offender petition in juvenile court.
According to District Attorney Keith Schroeder, investigators determined the fire was deliberately set, with evidence indicating that an accelerant was poured around several rooms on the first floor of the house and ignited.
Dispatch received the 911 call at 12:17 a.m., Hutchinson Fire Chief Kim Forbes said. Fire Station No. 2, on the corner of 20th Avenue and Main Street, is a block from the house but by the time the crew arrived on the scene the fire was fully involved, including the front porch.
“Crews were able to pour large amounts of water on the fire and knocked the fire down so they could go inside,” Forbes said.
Firefighters were able to enter the house and on the second floor they found the mother and daughter together in the bedroom. While Audrey died at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center shortly after the fire, her mother, Karla Vonachen, was taken to Via Christi Hospital in Wichita in critical condition. She died later in the day.
Forbes said at first it was believed Sam was in the house, but he was found unharmed. The father was also unharmed.
A large investigative team had gathered at the house Thursday afternoon, including the Office of the State Fire Marshal, investigators with the Department of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, and the Hutchinson Police Department.
Forbes said they assembled a bigger team because the fire involved a fatality. He said it was important that the investigators leave nothing unturned, examining every wire in the house and any other items they find.
“They are experts in the field and they begin looking at accidental causes for the fire from lamps and wiring,” Forbes said.
A neighbor, Cody Swanson said he heard a commotion about midnight and people yelling. When he stepped outside on his porch and looked west, he saw flames leaping from the house at 4 E. 19th Ave., a block away.
Buhler USD 313 Superintendent Mike Berblinger confirmed that Audrey was a Prosperity Elementary School sixth-grader. He said the school would have counselors in place and a “great plan to help our students and staff.”
“Our counselors are well-trained every year for helping our students work through tragedies,” he said.
Berblinger said people who want to help the family should contact either the district or Prosperity School office. Prosperity Elementary School Principal Randy Doerksen said the school was keeping the family in their thoughts and prayers.
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