Boy, Age Nine, Sobs In Court As He Faces Murder Charges For Allegedly Starting A Fire That Killed Five Of His Relatives

Kyle Alwood is only nine-years-old boy.

But the little boy has been arraigned on murder charges. Alwood is accused of starting an enormous fire that killed most of his family in Illinois.

The prosecution claim Alwood intentionally set his family’s mobile home ablaze on April 6. 

He faces five counts of first-degree murder.

Reporters for the Journal Star reported that the little boy seemed confused during the hearing at Woodford County Circuit Court. 

He is now in the custody of his paternal grandparents, who are his foster guardians.

Alwood is due back in court on November 22. Because of his age, he cannot be held in custody between hearings. 

Judge Charles Feeney read a juvenile petition laying out the charges.

He is charged with two counts of arson and one count of aggravated arson. The judge also appointed a public defender for the boy. 

The fire killed Alwood’s two half-siblings, one-year-old Ariel, two-year-old Daemeon Wall; and his cousin, Rose Alwood, aged two.

Kyle’s stepfather, 34-year-old Jason Wall, and the children’s maternal great-grandmother, 69-year-old Kathryn Murray were also killed in the fire. 

All five victims died of smoke inhalation inside the family’s trailer at Timberline Mobile Home Park.

Alwood’s mother, Katrina Alwood, told CBS This Morning that her child suffers from a mental illness.

Katrina, who was engaged to Jason, and her son from a previous relationship, Kyle, then eight years old, were the only people who managed to escape the blaze.

Her little boy had recently been recently diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and ADHD. She also revealed that the boy in the past had shown interest in lighters and fire.

“Everyone is looking at him like he’s some kind of monster, but that’s not who he is,” Alwood told the news outlet. “People make mistakes, and that’s what this is. Yes, it was a horrible tragedy, but it’s still not something to throw his life away over.”

“I forgive him. I love him no matter what,” the mom said of Kyle.