WARRENSBURG — A Florissant man is facing a slate of felony charges after allegedly setting fire to a home in Warrensburg last month, resulting in property damage and the death of two pets.
Byron Caffey, 34, is facing felony charges of burglary, first-degree arson, armed criminal action, first-degree harassment, animal abuse, stealing and driving while suspended.
According to the Warrensburg Police Department, officers responded with the Warrensburg Fire Department to the 1200 block of William Place at 11:14 a.m. Aug. 13 after a victim returned home to find smoke coming from their residence.
Court documents state officers located the smoke and signs of forced entry upon arrival. After extinguishing the fire, they found the locked back door’s glass panel had been kicked into the residence. Officers also located two of the deceased dogs in their kennels in a children’s bedroom. Their cause of death was determined to be smoke inhalation due to the fire.
Detectives found the fire had been started in multiple areas in the upstairs portion of the residence, including at least two locations in the bedroom the dogs were found in.
According to the WPD, the fire damage was limited to the bedrooms of the residence. The Missouri State Fire Marshall was contacted, and their investigation determined it was intentionally set.
Court documents state the Missouri State Fire Marshall’s office determined the structure fire was an arson by “human action supplying a competent ignition source, an open flame, to the lightweight combustible materials with the aid of an ignitable liquid.”
Court documents say the victim told officers they had been in the city overnight for a celebration, something that their boyfriend, Caffey, was upset and angry about. Before returning to their residence, the victim received multiple concerning text messages.
After being on scene for a few hours, the victim received additional messages. Detectives located the same media sent to the victim on Caffey’s Facebook page.
On Aug. 14, he went live on his Facebook page and posted a 38-minute video making comments about the victim. A previous ping of his cell phone, conducted due to concerns for the victim’s safety, determined he was in St. Louis, near Chesterfield.
Later that day, he was taken into custody in Florissant on a harassment warrant issued in the case. Law enforcement seized an iPhone and mailed it to the Warrensburg Police Department.
According to court documents, a search warrant was later obtained for the phone. On Aug. 28, detectives asked Caffey for the passcode. Caffey told officers he was not comfortable giving it and left the room. Detectives later contacted the victim, who stated Caffey liked to be ‘63’ due to his gang affiliations – something she was concerned could be a threat to her safety. Detectives used the information to determine the passcode and recover data from the phone – received Sept. 4.
Data included videos made inside the residence of the fire, including one showing a pillow lit on fire.
Caffey, who was initially only being held on the harassment charge on a $25,000 bond before additional charges were filed Sept. 8, is in the Johnson County Jail.
Joe Andrews can be reached at 660-747-8123.
