Arrest made in fire that killed 24 horses
A man has been charged with arson and aggravated cruelty to animals in connection with a stable fire that killed 24 horses, according to a Clayton County fire spokeswoman.
Investigators received a tip that 23-year-old Jonathan Espinoza-Vasquez set the fire April 4 after he got into an argument with his child’s mother and went to her home, Laura Richardson said Wednesday in a statement.
RELATED: 24 horses die in metro Atlanta stable fire
Only one horse survived the blaze on Noah’s Ark Road in Jonesboro.
Clayton officials just announced that they arrested the man they believe set a barn on fire that killed 24 horses. They said the suspect got into an argument with his child's mother, then went to her home, set the barn on fire. Live report on Ch2 at Noon
— Tyisha Fernandes (@TyishaWSB) April 18, 2018
“Espinoza-Vasquez initially denied any involvement in the fire,” Richardson said. “However, he made conflicting statements as to the last time he had visited the farm.”
A cellphone belonging to Espinoza-Vasquez was taken in the investigation, and the GPS locations on his pictures show the phone less than a mile from the incident on the night of the fire, officials said.
Espinoza-Vasquez is in the Henry County jail. He had a failure to appear warrant in that county.
MORE: Atlanta crime news
In other news:
