HUTCHINSON- Tuesday afternoon testimony centered on when police found Sam Vanochen walking down the street after the fire.
He was eventually transported to the hospital because of high blood pressure checked by EMS at the scene of the fire.
At the hospital officials began to suspect he may have been involved in setting the fire because his new clothes had the smell of gasoline.
Vanochen’s father is expected to testify on Wednesday
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HUTCHINSON – Opening statements were presented on Tuesday in the trial for a Kansas teen accused of setting the fire that killed his mother and sister.
Samuel Vonachen is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and aggravated arson after allegedly setting a fire to his family’s home leaving his mother and sister trapped inside.
He was 14 at the time of the fatal fire in September 2013.
Prior to opening statements, the defense asked that the TV Camera in the courtroom for local TV stations be removed.
That was denied with Judge Trish Rose choosing to follow Supreme Court rules for media coverage of trials like this one.
The state started their case by describing the teen going to the garage of the family home, grabbing a gas can and pouring in a U shape around the staircase making it difficult if not impossible for anyone to escape.
He then allegedly lit a napkin and threw it on the gas igniting it.
Senior Assistant District Attorney Steve Maxwell noted that Vanochen had taken his favorite items outside prior to starting the fire including a guitar, blanket and his cell phone.
Maxwell called him a psychopath with no emotion or compassion for others.
The defense is arguing mental disease and defect telling of the teen being caught talking to himself for two hours during the time he was in Reno County Youth Services.
The first witness was 911 Director Michelle Abbott who testified over a 911 call from the defendant notifying authorities of the fire.
Vanochen sounded out of breath and in a panic. The state says it was an act and that he used a different name when making the call.
The trial is expected to continue into next week.