<font color="#FF0000">UPDATE:</font> 2 CHARGED IN WELLBORN FIRE

Local News

November 30, 2009

Blaze set to cover up burglary, say police

By Carnell Hawthorne Jr., Reporter

An 18-year-old and a minor have admitted to setting the blaze that ravaged a live-in furniture workshop Nov. 11 in Wellborn, sheriff’s reports show. Deputies say the fire was set to cover up an alleged burglary.

The two suspects, along with a third man, are charged in a series of burglaries that occurred in recent weeks, according to sheriff's reports. Shayne Cooper-Olin, of 45 Tomoka Meadows Blvd., in Ormond Beach; Thomas James Burke of 9416 147 Road in Live Oak, and a third suspect, a minor, reportedly admitted to their involvement in the thefts.

Acting on a tip, investigators visited the home of the minor suspect. Once there, officers said, they observed several items reported stolen from a local residence. The owner identified the items as those stolen from his home and they were returned to him. Cooper-Olin, Burke and the minor admitted responsibility for the crime, sheriff’s reports show.

Officers then arrested 18-year-old Cooper-Olin and transported him to the county jail. Once there, Cooper-Olin reportedly confessed that he and the juvenile suspect were responsible for breaking into another residence, along with the live-in workshop of Whisnant, before setting that facility on fire. According to a sheriff's report, Cooper-Olin confessed that he and the minor stole several items from the workshop, vandalized it, then set it ablaze to hide possible evidence.

Although Burke, 18, said he had gone to the Whisnant shop with the two others to steal items, he told officers he was not present when the fire occurred.

In addition to the other crimes, Cooper-Olin reportedly admitted to breaking into a vehicle on Nov. 14, several days after the fire.

Cooper-Olin and the minor, arrested Saturday, were each charged with four counts of burglary, four counts of grand theft and arson. Burke was arrested and is charged with two counts each of burglary and grand theft.