Couple loses home to fire, husband charged with arson

BY ANDY HALLMAN and RUSTY EBERT

Golden Triangle New Service

MT. STERLING ? Lonnie and Judy Wilson of 200 Walnut St. in Mt. Sterling, lost their home and most of their possessions to fire Friday.

On Monday, Van Buren County Sheriff?s Deputy Geoff Morris arrested Lonnie and charged him with committing domestic abuse ? first offense, assault, second degree arson and animal abuse, alleging all crimes occurred Friday, the date the house burnt down.

Lonnie will have a preliminary hearing at 10 a.m. Dec. 10. His bail was set at $10,000.

After the fire, Lonnie went to stay at the Veterans Health Administration Hospital in Iowa City, while Judy stayed with Alan and Linda VanGorkom of Mt. Sterling.

Many of the Wilsons? cats perished in the blaze, but they still have cats and Husky dogs that are being cared for. They eat Diamond puppy food. The dogs eat Pedigree canned food and the cats eat Friskies canned food.

Judy is in need of large sweatshirts, pullover shirts, size 10 for sweat pants, size 12 jeans, size 9-10 shoes, and large coats or hooded sweatshirts. A benefit fund has been set up at First Iowa State Bank, Keosauqua, for monetary donations.

The Keosauqua, Bonaparte and Farmington fire departments all responded. The Ledger was unable to contact the Keosauqua Fire Department by press time for additional details about the fire. More information about this incident as it becomes available.