Blair County President Judge Jolene Kopriva has appointed Thomas Dickey and Steven Passarello to defend 62 year old Aaron Wilson Dishong, of East Freedom, citing their experience and the possibility that the prosecution will seek the death penalty in the case.
Three year old Darrel Etchison Jr. died in the November 15th fire that destroyed a duplex at 112 South 2nd Street. Court documents show that Dishong set the fire in an attempt to kill a woman who had filed a protection from abuse complaint against him. The woman, who is a friend of Darrel Etchison’s mother Brandy Etchison, was supposedly staying at the address but as it turned out she wasn’t there at the time of the fire.
Brandy Etchison was injured when she jumped from the third floor of the burning structure.
An investigation into the arson and death of the child continues as the prosecution tries to determine if there are "aggravating circumstances" that would allow the death penalty to come into play.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for December 5th.
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