Last Stop Bar and Lanes had become such a financial burden for owners that they decided to burn it down. That’s what the criminal complaint against 46-year-old Lyle Huss contends about the March 3rd fire that destroyed the 93-year-old building.
Huss and Lynda Stiller-Devoe were partners in the business and according to the complaint she entered a room where Fond du Lac police detectives were interviewing Huss last Thursday and said, “Lyle, just tell them.” That’s when Huss said the two of them had discussed setting fire to the bar because the business had become such a financial burden.
Huss admitted trying to start a fire on Monday night March 1st by setting a plug-in heater on fire. Early the morning of the fire he splashed acetone on the wall and used a lighter from the bar. He thought twice about it and tried to smack the flames out with his hands, but then turned off the lights, locked the doors, and walked out to a van where Stiller-Devoe was waiting. Huss told her it was done.
Tuesday he was charged with two counts of arson to a building, one for conspiracy to commit arson. The Fond du Lac County District Attorney will be considering a conspiracy to commit arson charge against Stiller-Devoe. Huss is free on a $5,000 signature bond. He will be back in court for a preliminary hearing on April 8th.
Contributed by Bob Nelson-KFIZ