Northwest Missouri Teen Charged with Setting Child on Fire

Posted: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 10:49 am | Updated: 12:33 pm, Tue Apr 24, 2012.

Northwest Missouri Teen Charged with Setting Child on Fire Associated Press |

SAVANNAH, Mo. (AP) — A northwest Missouri teenager faces charges for allegedly pouring gasoline on a 10-year-old and setting the child on fire.

Joseph D. Gardner was charged Monday in Andrew County court with first-degree assault. The St. Joseph News-Press reports (http://bit.ly/JDaIEu ) that the charges stem from an incident April 19 in which the 10-year-old child sustained first- and second-degree burns on his face, right arm and in his nose and throat.

The probable cause statement says the 17-year-old suspect is accused of threatening to murder the child and his family if he told anyone and that after igniting the child, the defendant stood there and laughed.

Gardner asked for a public defender. Calls to an address listed for Gardner weren't immediately returned Tuesday.

He was being held Tuesday on $150,000 bond.

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Information from: St. Joseph News-Press, http://www.stjoenews-press.com

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Posted in State on Tuesday, April 24, 2012 10:49 am. Updated: 12:33 pm.