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Sunday, November 15, 2026Nov 15

Tennessee man charged in 72-year-old uncle’s fire death

Texture of fire on a black background. fire tile black / Getty Images
Texture of fire on a black background. fire tile black / Getty Images

LEBANON, Tenn. (AP) — A Middle Tennessee man has been charged with causing the death of his uncle, who was in a wheelchair, in a house fire, authorities said.

A grand jury in Wilson County returned an indictment Sept. 15 that charges Christophe Sean Tillison, 40, with reckless homicide in the death of 72-year-old Ben Edward Thompson, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said Thursday.

Investigators responded to a fire at a home in Watertown on Nov. 19, 2019, and found that Thompson had died in the blaze.

Investigators said Tillison, who lived with his uncle, caused the fire.

Tillison was arrested Thursday and released on bond. A criminal court clerk said Thursday that records did not show whether Tillison had a lawyer to speak on his behalf about the charges.