A teenager accused of helping his brother set a fire last fall that killed three children and an unborn baby has pleaded guilty.
The state Department of Justice says 18-year-old Jeremy Wand could face life in prison, after the guilty plea was entered Wednesday in Lafayette County court on three counts of first degree intentional homicide, one count of attempted first degree intentional homicide, one count of arson, and one count of felony murder-unborn child. In exchange, a single count of attempted first degree intentional homicide was dismissed, but was read in to the record.
The charges stem from a September 2012 fire at his brother’s home in Argyle. Jeremy helped his brother, Armin Wand III, set the fire to help collect insurance money. The blaze killed Armin Wand’s three young sons. His pregnant wife, Sharon Wand, was able to rescue the couple’s daughter, but was badly burned in the process and lost the baby she was pregnant with at the time. She continues to recover.
Armin Wand pleaded guilty in February to similar charges and was later sentenced to three consecutive life sentences in prison without parole. Jeremy Wand will be sentenced on July 19th.