The Soddy-Daisy man accused of dousing a woman in gasoline and starting a fire will have his case progress to a grand jury after a Hamilton County judge found probable cause.
Christopher Alan Medula, 39, appeared in court Monday for a probable cause hearing after he was accused of first-degree murder and aggravated arson in November. His alleged victim, Angela Michelle Palacio, 60, died as a result of her injuries, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.
According to an arrest report, a deputy responded to a call Nov. 11 and found a man standing over Medula, a lighter in Medula’s pocket and a camper trailer fully engulfed in flames.
Palacio was found lying in the driveway with severe burns over nearly her entire body, according to deputies. She was breathing and coherent and allegedly able to make statements such as “Chris did it,” “he poured gas on me” and “he’s lost it” in between her labored breaths.
Since Medula was arrested, the judge ordered an evaluation to determine whether he was competent to stand trial, according to his defense attorney, Matthew Rogers. He said Medula needs another assessment and is not competent for court proceedings.
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The man deputies found standing near the scene, Steve Ellis, 52, testified to watching Medula allegedly hold Palacio’s camper door shut while she burned alive, he said. Ellis heard someone call for help in what sounded like a low moan. He got into his vehicle to investigate and drove around to see Medula.
Ellis knew that an older woman lived in the camper, he said. Medula let go of the door and approached Ellis, he said, and Ellis told him to get back. Palacio popped out of the door, but Ellis could not distinguish her features. There was a haze around her, he said, almost like a glow of fuel.
He then allegedly heard Medula say, “I had to do it.”
Ellis said he turned back to face Palacio, who he said was naked and hairless. He described the blaze as like a massive flamethrower that came out of the door, probably 2 feet in diameter. The canopy was dripping with plastic at the time. She had splotches over her body where her skin was falling off.
“And that’s when I knew this was bad,” he said.
Palacio tried to go back into the trailer, Ellis said. Medula ran toward a gate, near where Ellis said he knew his 13-year-old son would soon get dropped off by the bus. Ellis then paused his testimony for several seconds.
“I saw what he did, and I was in fear for my son,” he said. “So I was going to stop him.”
Ellis jumped in his truck, slid it in reverse and spun it around, he said.
“My intentions was to run over him, before he could get to my son,” Ellis said.
When he caught up to Medula, Ellis exited his truck with a firearm. Ellis said he pushed Medula down, and he told Ellis that Palacio was polluting the world, that she allegedly raped Medula and that she was the devil. Standing next to his defense attorney, Medula nodded his head to Ellis’ testimony.
“And it was at that moment that he said that he’s Jesus,” Ellis said. “And so I told him that if you get up, I’m going to help you meet Jesus.”
The Sheriff’s Office arrived and took his statement, Ellis said.
Rogers, the defense attorney, asked Ellis to clarify some of the directions, distances and context he testified about. Ellis told Rogers he had seen Medula walking down the center of the road in an incident several weeks before the fire, where Ellis assumed Medula was on the telephone because he was talking to himself.
Ellis didn’t call emergency services at the time, as Medula’s actions didn’t affect him. If Medula got around the gate or his son, he said, that was a problem.
Rogers asked Ellis if he knew Palacio, who may have been selling or using illegal narcotics in the neighborhood. Her autopsy report revealed a lot of illicit drugs, like fentanyl and methamphetamine, the lawyer said. He asked Ellis if the victim might have started the fire, and if he had only assumed Medula ignited it.
Medula was holding the door shut, Ellis said.
“I’m not a detective, but I can pretty much figure that one out,” he said.
He had no idea about any accelerants, he said, and had no idea what caused the fire. Ellis declined to comment after the hearing.
In closing arguments, prosecutor Sean Boers said if a defendant is holding someone in a burning trailer, they intend for the person to be there. The autopsy report said Palacio died from thermal injuries and had 97% of her body covered in burns. He said there’s nothing in the autopsy to describe those drugs as having anything to do with the cause of her death.
Rogers said that between the narcotic use and rape allegations, it’s understandable why a person would try to keep a door between them and another individual. He said, besides Ellis’ assumption, there’s been no proof before the court that Medula started the fire.
Hamilton County General Sessions Court Judge Tori Smith said that what happened was horrific, and that she found there’s probable cause to send the charges to the grand jury, based on several factors, including the defendant’s alleged comments, possession of a lighter and actions holding the door.
She called Ellis’ acts heroic and found Medula violated his probation. She revoked him to serve the remainder of a previous sentence.
After the hearing, Rogers said that a grand jury will likely find probable cause in Medula’s charges. An indictment would be returned to Criminal Court, where he would then appear for arraignment. In the courtroom halls, Boers said he was unable to comment at the time.
Contact courts reporter Mason Edwards at medwards@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6409.
