Spartanburg, SC (Greenville News) - Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright said a former deputy set a fire at a home in Inman while four people were there.
Dylan Ellis, 22, is charged with arson and four counts of attempted murder, according to Wright.
Wright said Ellis started the fire around 4 a.m. on Aug. 23 while four members of the family, including two children ages 9 and 15, were at home.
The family was able to make it out of the home alive and is doing OK, Wright said, but their home is destroyed.
"Smoke detectors actually saved this family's life, by the grace of God," Wright said.
Wright said investigators quickly determined the fire was arson. Once they determined a deputy was involved, they brought in the State Law Enforcement Division to investigate.
Wright said Ellis showed up for his regular shift on Thursday and was asked to interview with investigators. During the interview, he confessed to starting the fire, Wright said.
Ellis was terminated the same day, Wright said. Ellis worked for the Sheriff's Office for one year and three months and had no known problems, according to Wright.
Wright said it appears the fire was started over an ex-girlfriend and that the victims are members of that ex-girlfriend's family, though the woman did not live at the home.
