HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The a motion hearing for the case involving suppressing of evidence in the case against a 16 year old charged with two counts of first-degree murder and aggravated arson continued Thursday with the state basically giving a preview of the upcoming trial or at least the investigation part of it.
Samuel Vonachen is accused of setting a fire to his family’s home which killed his mother and sister. He was 14 at the time and the state has charged him as an adult for those crimes.
The defense is challenging the investigation of the case including the video interview officers did with the defendant where he allegedly confessed to the crimes.
The defense wants the evidence suppressed, so the state is presenting their case to Judge Trish Rose. Thursday afternoon, Lt. Thad Pickard who was in charge of the officers who initially responded to the scene testified to hearing the traffic dispatching officers and that the house was fully involved with fire and there were screams coming from the home.
He says when he arrived, he saw a man on the sidewalk outside the home who was later identified as the defendants father and described his as acting bizarre, like he was just a bystander and not apart of what was occurring.
The defense is also questioning the decision to take Vonachen to the hospital to be checked out. Pickard told the court that they had him examined at the scene and his blood pressure was high as was his heart rate. He says there were no ambulances available, so he had an officer take him in his car to the hospital as a precaution. He says the defendant was not arrested for any crime at that point, but was in police custody because of him being a juvenile out after curfew and also because they were concerned for his welfare.
Officer Adam Wieshaar was also on the stand and told of seeing the flames when he arrived, saying the door to the home was open and flames could be scene inside going up the stairs. He talked with the defendants father and also to thought he seemed strange, saying he didn’t seem concerned, but more like bystander.
Earlier in the day Michelle Abbott, Reno County 911 Director testified over the radio traffic for emergency responders when the fire occurred. That included traffic over police beginning to look for Sam Vonachen and also the two victims being described by EMS as code blue, meaning they were critical and not breathing.
Retired Police Officer Bobby Holmquist was also took the stand and told how he was working traffic control at 18th & Main and saw a teen walking up Main toward the fire. It was Vonachen and that he had what appeared to be a new pair of jeans on. He says there was still a sticker on the jean showing the size. He was also wearing a white hoodie and carrying a blanket. Holmquist testified that he seemed calm and unemotional.
Dr, Richard Price who was working in the Emergency Room at the hospital who testified over the examination of defendant after he was brought to the hospital. He told the defendant’s bllod pressure coming down, however his heart rate was still high.
The case centers on Vonachen allegedly spreading gas through the downstairs of his family’s home, then setting it on fire. This occurred back on Sept. 26, 2013.
Senior Assistant District Attorney Steve Maxwell says he didn’t expect the hearing to be concluded Thursday saying one of his witnesses was not available to testify.