The father of three young boys killed in a house fire in Argyle on Friday is under arrest for starting the blaze – and an uncle of the boys is also in custody. The state Justice Department said Sunday that 32 year-old Armin Wand III and 18-year-old Jeremy Wand face possible charges of arson with intent to defraud. Both are in the Lafayette County Jail awaiting court action. Both are from Argyle, located about 30 miles southwest of Madison.
The Justice Department said what led to the arrests would not be disclosed until prosecutors file their case in court. The fire began just after 3:00 a.m. Friday, and it killed brothers Allen Wand, age seven – five-year-old Jeffrey, and three-year-old Joseph. Their 27 year-old mother Sharon was at a Madison hospital, in critical condition. Sharon is also four months’ pregnant. A two year-old daughter was treated-and-released from a hospital along with suspect Armin Wand.
Armin Wand told a Madison television station on Saturday that he had attempted tried to fight the blaze, but that it was too big to handle. He said his wife couldn’t get to a phone to call 911, so he ran outside to get help. A resident who lives about 100 yards away told the Wisconsin State Journal that he was awakened by Wand’s screams on Friday morning. State and local investigators continue to look into the fire.
