The man charged Wednesday in a Topeka triple homicide committed last week was the father of two of the victims and the boyfriend of the other, says Shawnee District Attorney Mike Kagay.
Kyle J. Tyler, 32, was charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the commission of a felony, two counts of aggravated child endangerment and one count of aggravated arson, Kagay said.
The charges are related to a fire on the morning of Jan. 20 that killed Genny L. Fitzpatrick, 30, and his daughters Peyton L. Tyler, 9, and Kourtney K. Tyler, 1, all of Topeka.
Kansas law defines first-degree murder in the commission of a felony as homicide resulting from the commission, attempt to commit, or escape from an inherently dangerous crime.
Moreover:Shantell R. Spranger, 20, dies of injuries sustained in a Dec. 26 fire at his Topeka home
Kyle Tyler was found in the back of the house
Firefighters were called at 4:54 a.m. Jan. 20 to the home where Fitzpatrick and Tyler lived at 916 SW Warren Avenue, Kagay said.
Warren Avenue is seven blocks west of SW MacVicar Avenue.
Firefighters arrived to find the house completely engulfed in flames, with the three victims inside and a fully clothed Kyle Tyler on the back deck, Kagay said.
“Preliminary findings indicated that all three victims likely died as a result of smoke inhalation,” Kagay said. “Firefighters managed to put out the large fire on the upper floors of the residence and a second fire that had been started in the basement of the residence.”
Moreover:Matthew J. Dennon, 64, identified as victim of deadly Dec. 11 fire near Tecumseh
Kyle Tyler is held on a $1 million bond
Kyle Tyler was taken to a Topeka hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation “and was later determined to be a resident of the home along with his girlfriend and two children, ages 1 and 9,” Kagay said.
Kyle Tyler was later released from the hospital and arrested, he said.
He was being held Thursday on a $1 million bond, Kagay said.
Contact Tim Hrenchir at [email protected] or 785-213-5934.
