Louisville man charged in fire that killed wife and son

Published 4:31 pm Tuesday, July 17, 2018

LOUISVILLE, Miss. (AP) — A Mississippi man is accused of setting a fire that killed his wife and their teenage son.

Fred Eiland is jailed without bond in Winston County. He is charged with capital murder, arson and three counts of aggravated assault.

Chief Deputy Keith Alexander says one assault charge will be upgraded to capital murder because the son died after the charges were filed.

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Alexander says Eiland pushed a window-unit air conditioner into the building where his wife and three others were staying early Saturday, then threw in gasoline and set the building on fire.

His wife, 45-year-old Merredyth Eiland, died Saturday and their son, 17-year-old Lil’Freddius Eiland, died Tuesday.

The couple’s adult daughter and her boyfriend survived.

Fred Eiland was arrested Sunday. His attorney could not immediately be reached Tuesday.