Police hope to use DNA to identify fatal fire victim

Clayton
Clayton

Hot Springs police hope to use DNA to positively identify the male victim of Tuesday's fatal fire at Polo Run Apartments, 126 Manor Lane, which was later ruled arson and resulted in the arrest of a local man.

"Detectives have developed information and have an idea who the victim is," Cpl. Kirk Zaner said Friday. "They have obtained DNA samples from the victim and from a potential relative of his and sent the samples to the state crime lab for a comparison."

Rayson Edward Clayton, 22, who is accused of intentionally setting the fire following an argument with his aunt, a resident at Polo Run, was arrested at around 3 p.m. Thursday and charged with felony counts of capital murder, punishable by the death penalty or life in prison, and arson, punishable by up to life in prison.

Clayton, who lists a Banks Street address on the Garland County Detention Center inmate roster, is set to appear at 1 p.m. Monday in Garland County District Court for a plea and arraignment hearing. He is being held on zero bond.

According to the probable cause affidavit on Clayton's arrest, the fire began at the apartments shortly after Clayton's aunt, who had kicked him out of her apartment the day before, declined to let him back inside to pick up his belongings. An acquaintance of Clayton's who was with him told police he heard Clayton threaten to "burn the place down" a few minutes before the fire started.

Police said there is no relation between Clayton and the victim who could not be readily identified due to the extent of the fire-related injuries he suffered.

Police said Wednesday that the fire occurred in the first-floor common area of one building in the complex and involved toxic smoke from a sofa. The fire victim's body was discovered in the common area, or foyer, on the first floor, between the stairwell and the exit doors.

"As he tried to escape, we believe he came down the stairs and was overcome by the toxic fumes in the common area, collapsed and subsequently died. His body was burned by the fire," Zaner said Wednesday.

A news release Thursday said the Hot Springs fire marshal and Hot Springs police detectives determined the fire originated from the sofa in the common area on the first floor.

Clayton was previously arrested Jan. 17, 2018, on a felony count of possession of drug paraphernalia, which was later amended to a misdemeanor. He is set for trial on that charge May 3 in district court. He had multiple prior arrests for misdemeanor counts of criminal trespass, usually adjudicated by time served.

On March 20, 2015, he was arrested for two counts of misdemeanor assault on a family or household member which he pleaded no contest to on Nov. 5, 2015, and was sentenced to 90 days in jail.

According to court documents, Clayton's mother called the court clerk regarding the charges against Clayton, noting she was the victim in one of the cases and wanted to drop the charges because her son "didn't mean to do it."

She stated her son was mentally ill and "didn't need to be in jail." She said he "needs help" and "just needs his medicine," noting, "When (Clayton) is on his meds he is the most loving son a mother could have."

Local on 03/31/2018

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