Charges: Father set fatal fire after arguing with daughter

Investigators examine the scene of a fire at a mobile home in Paynesville.
Investigators examine the scene of a fire at a mobile home Wednesday in Paynesville, Minn.
Dave Schwarz | St. Cloud Times via AP

Updated 4:54 p.m. | Posted 4:32 p.m.

Prosecutors say a Minnesota man set a fire that killed his 22-year-old daughter after the two argued about her plans to move out.

Forty-six-year-old John Newport of Paynesville, Minn., was charged Thursday with second-degree murder in the death of Jamey Newport. His bail was set at $2 million.

Jamey Newport called dispatchers Tuesday evening and said her father was threatening to start a fire in their mobile home in Paynesville, about 76 miles northwest of Minneapolis.

According to the complaint, John Newport was outside the burning home. Firefighters found his daughter inside. She was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Assistant Stearns County Attorney Kevin Voss says that shortly before the fire, John Newport posted on Facebook that he intended to burn down the home.

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