A 27-year-old man, John Henry Walston, Jr., has been arrested in Escambia County for allegedly killing two children and intentionally setting fire to a mobile home in the Grand Oak Mobile Home Park on Flaxman Street. The tragic incident occurred on Friday, and authorities are still piecing together the devastating details.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Walston is accused of killing 9-year-old Vayden Orum and 7-year-old Rayden Smith after assaulting one of them. The fire, which Walston allegedly set, destroyed the mobile home, and he was able to escape the blaze. He was one of two adults who required medical treatment at a local hospital, along with one child.
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Jail records show that Walston’s residence is in the same area, near Flaxman Street, and neighbors confirm that he lived in the trailer with his own family. Tyler Smith, the father of Rayden Smith and stepfather of Vayden Orum, revealed in an interview with WEAR News that Walston had been a longtime acquaintance. He also confirmed that the home where the fire occurred was owned by Walston.
Witnesses reported that the children’s mother bravely ran into the burning trailer in a desperate attempt to save her children, but was forced to retreat due to the intense heat. She was later taken to the hospital for treatment.
Walston faces several serious charges, including two counts of premeditated murder, one count of sexual assault on a victim under 12, one count of arson, and the killing of an animal, after a dog was found dead inside the home.
Walston remains in Escambia County Jail without bond, and his first court appearance is scheduled for November 26. The community is in shock over the horrific nature of the crime, and local authorities continue to investigate the details surrounding this tragic event.