28-year-old Joshua Risinger pled not-guilty this afternoon in Washington County Circuit Court to a murder charge he’s facing after he told police he set fire to his trailer at Southway Villa Mobile Home Park Tuesday night.
A dead body was found in the remnants of the fire.
Police are still investigating to find out who the body is. Their only clue is that Risinger told ISP Detectives he had started the fire to kill “Gilbert” who had apparently been living there.
The body was found in the living room of the trailer.
Washington County Circuit Judge Larry Medlock assigned Andrew Wright to represent Risinger.
Risinger remains charged with only one count of Murder, a Class A Felony.
Earlier today the Prosecutor’s office said they chose to file only murder charge at this time because it appears that the fire was started with the intent to kill.
Risinger is currently being held at the Washington County Detention Center without bail.
The Kentucky Medical Examiner did an autopsy on the body recovered from the fire on Wednesday and was not able to determine a cause of death or an identity.
Further testing will be done to make a determination.
Salem Fire Chief Tom Day said he was working with the State Fire Marshall to determine a cause of the fire.
The pre-trial conference has been set for April 20 at 9a.
The jury trial has been set for Oct. 3 at 8:30a.
