BLAND — A Waynesville man who is being charged with four felony counts, including arson, is being held in the Maries County Jail with bond set at $100,000 cash or surety.

Jeff Ewart, 45, was arrested Aug. 18 on a no-bond warrant for felony charges filed that same day by Maries County Prosecuting Attorney Anthony “Tony” Skouby. Charges include second-degree class D felony arson, second-degree class D felony burglary, first-degree class E felony property damage, and an unclassified class E felony of animal abuse, second offense or by torture and or mutilation while the animal was alive. He was brought before Judge Kerry G. Rowden Tuesday morning, where bond was set, but not posted.

Ewart is the primary suspect in an arson case after the sheriff’s office and State Fire Marshal’s Office began investigating a house fire on Maries County Road 635, the residence of J.R. of Dixon. The residence is located in “Amish country” said Lt. Scott John with the Maries County Sheriff’s Department.

The call came in at 12:59 p.m., after the Amish sawmill let out for lunch at 12:45 p.m. Workers noticed the smoke and went to the residence. While a group pulled items off the porch and from around the house, another worker ran to the community telephone to dial emergency services, John said.

“There were signs on the scene of a deliberately set fire — burn patterns indicated an accelerant,” John said. “The fire marshal took samples on the floor.”

“The suspect was an ex-boyfriend of the victim and it is suspected he purposely entered the residence and used accelerants to start the fire,” said Maries County Sheriff Chris Heitman.

One of the victim’s dogs remained inside the residence and died after the house was suspected to have been deliberately set on fire. The property is considered to be a complete loss.

Neighbors reported seeing a truck speed by shortly before the smoke was spotted. Deputies and the fire marshal traced the truck to Waynesville and ultimately to Ewart.

According to the probable cause statement, “Ewart confessed to pouring gasoline on the bed in the master bedroom. He stated he then pulled a piece of paper that was found on the table and used it to ignite the gasoline. He stated he thought both dogs were outside when he started the fire. He admitted to traveling straight home and removing the fuel can from his truck along with a cooler and putting the items back in his garage.

“This case was only made due to the hard work put into it by investigators,” Heitman said. Without their dedication, Ewart would still be walking the streets. I must commend Lt. Scott John, and the Missouri Fire Marshal’s Office for their dedication and hard work with this investigation.”