
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, March 3, 1990                   TAG: 9003032965
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: AFTON                                 LENGTH: Short

SON, TWO OTHERS CHARGED IN WOMENS' HOUSE-FIRE DEATHS

Three people were charged Friday for their alleged involvement in a house fire that claimed the lives of an elderly woman and her daughter, Nelson County officials said.

Sheriff William M. Harris identified the victims of the 12:30 a.m. blaze as Lillian J. Fox, 71, and Carolyn D. Fox, 46. An autopsy has been ordered, Harris said.

The sheriff said Virgil S. Fox Jr., son of Lillian Fox, was charged with capital murder. Harris said the 40-year-old Nelson County man remained in the county's jail Friday night in lieu of $50,000 bond.

Also charged with capital murder was an unidentified 17-year-old Nelson County male, and Horace E. Burnette III, 19, of Afton, was charged with arson, the sheriff said.

Harris said authorities had uncovered a possible motive, but he declined to elaborate.

The fatal fire occurred as authorities were investigating the cause of a Tuesday morning basement fire at the same home and a car fire two weeks ago on land behind the house, Harris said.

The home, a log cabin, was near Virginia 633 just across the Albemarle County line.

by CNB