Pat Tinsley, 49, also of Marion is charged with second-degree arson by complicity, a Class B felony, and reckless homicide, a Class D felony.
Results of a state police investigation were presented to a special Crittenden County Grand Jury Friday and a sealed indictment was returned for Tinsley, who was arrested at 4 p.m., later that day at the the Crittenden County Ambulance Service, where he is a part-time EMT. Commonwealth Attorney Zac Greenwell and State Police Det. Scott Smith met with grand jurors for an hour and half, presenting evidence in the case. Jurors then deliberated for almost three more hours before returning the indictment just before 1:30 p.m.
Tinsley’s wife, 47-year-old Glenda Tinsley, was killed in the fire at their two-story brick home amid a set of bizarre circumstances. It was initially reported by the victim that an intruder was in the home. From her upstairs bedroom, Glenda Tinsley apparently talked at length with a police dispatcher and then called a co-worker while the fire was raging downstairs. Investigators determined quickly that the fire was set, apparently after finding kerosene in the house, according to members of Glenda Tinsley’s family.
Police say they believe the wife had something to do with the fire, too, precipitating the complicity to commit arson charge against the husband.
Pat Tinsley alleges that he was at his mother’s home in Tolu, about 20 miles away, when the fire was reported by his wife.
It is very rare for Circuit Judge Rene Williams to call grand jurors to the courthouse between regular meetings. The grand jury meets regularly on the first Monday of each even numbered month. The grand jury just met on Oct. 4 and was not scheduled to meet again until Dec. 6.
The judge had not convened a special grand jury in several years, and it is generally done only in high-profile cases that warrant immediate attention. Deliberations of grand juries are secret and not subject to the Kentucky Open Meetings Law or the federal Freedom of Information Act.
A grand jury does not determine guilt or innocence. It simply determines whether enough evidence exists to indict a person and send their case to circuit court.
Pat Tinsley alleges that he was at his mother’s home in Tolu, about 20 miles away, when the fire was reported by his wife.
It is very rare for Circuit Judge Rene Williams to call grand jurors to the courthouse between regular meetings. The grand jury meets regularly on the first Monday of each even numbered month. The grand jury just met on Oct. 4 and was not scheduled to meet again until Dec. 6.
The judge had not convened a special grand jury in several years, and it is generally done only in high-profile cases that warrant immediate attention. Deliberations of grand juries are secret and not subject to the Kentucky Open Meetings Law or the federal Freedom of Information Act.
A grand jury does not determine guilt or innocence. It simply determines whether enough evidence exists to indict a person and send their case to circuit court.
Tinsley was jailed at the Crittenden County Detention Center on a $50,000 cash bond.
