TOPEKA, Kan. -A Kansas man has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder after his girlfriend and two girls died in a house fire.
Kyle J. Tyler, 32, was also charged Wednesday with two counts of aggravated child endangerment and one count of aggravated arson, Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay said.
A fire at a Topeka home on January 20 killed Genny L. Fitzpatrick, 30; Peyton L. Tyler, age 9; and Kourtney K. Tyler, 1, all of Topeka.
The house was completely on fire when firefighters arrived. Kagay said the three victims were inside the house and Kyle Tyler was found outside on the back deck.
Preliminary findings indicate that the victims died of smoke inhalation, Kagay said. Firefighters put out a “major fire” upstairs and a second fire that had been started in the basement, he said she.
Kyle Tyler was treated for smoke inhalation before being arrested. He is being held on a million dollar bond.
A public defender listed in court documents as Tyler’s attorney was unavailable for comment Thursday.
—
For jurisdictions using the Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers Tips Hotline, anonymous tips can be submitted by calling 816-474-TIPS (8477), submitting the tip online, or via the free mobile app at P3Tips.com.
Details and annual homicide data for the Kansas City area are available through the KSHB 41 News Homicide Tracker, launched in 2015. Read the KSHB 41 News Mug Shot Policy.
