A Columbia man is jailed without bond on this Friday morning, accused of murder and arson for June’s deadly residential fire on Paris road that killed 31-year-old Donovan Baylis.
Columbia Police are seeking second degree murder and first degree arson charges against 47-year-old Brandon Butchkoski, who is jailed without bond. CPD officers arrested him on Thursday.
Columbia Police say the horrific incident happened on June 15 in the 1500 block of Paris road, alleging that Butchkoski set the victim and the porch on fire. Baylis died about a month later, on July 14. A Boone County grand jury indicted the suspect for a separate arson incident that happened on June 29. During the second incident, court documents allege say Butchkoski threw an “on fire backpack full of flammable items” onto the same house’s roof.
CPD’s investigation continues, and they encourage anyone with information on the deadly fire to call Columbia Crimestoppers at (573) 875-TIPS.