Father set fatal fire after arguing with daughter

Published 7:28 pm Thursday, July 25, 2019

PAYNESVILLE — Prosecutors said a Minnesota man set a fire that killed his 22-year-old daughter after the two argued about her plans to move out.

Forty-six-year-old John Newport of Paynesville was charged Thursday with second-degree murder in the death of Jamey Newport. His bail was set at $2 million.

Jamey Newport called dispatchers Tuesday evening and said her father was threatening to start a fire in their mobile home in Paynesville, about 76 miles northwest of Minneapolis.

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According to the complaint, John Newport was outside the burning home. Firefighters found his daughter inside. She was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Assistant Stearns County Attorney Kevin Voss said that shortly before the fire, John Newport posted on Facebook that he intended to burn down the home.