Timothy Edward Lary : Rome man sets house ablaze, killing stepmom

FLOYD COUNTY, Ga. — A 26-year-old Rome man has been taken into custody by authorities following a tragic incident where a house fire claimed the life of his stepmother. The suspect, identified as Timothy Edward Lary, was arrested after allegedly setting fire to the residence, resulting in the death of a 70-year-old woman.

The incident occurred on Saturday night around 9:30 p.m. when Rome police responded to reports of a house fire on Addington Court. Upon arrival, officers discovered a woman trapped inside the burning building, with flames engulfing the structure.

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Authorities on the scene observed a shirtless individual, later identified as Timothy Edward Lary, standing on the side of the road. The homeowner approached the officers and accused Lary of starting the fire, stating, “He set the fire and my wife is inside! I want him to go to jail.”

When questioned by the police, Lary admitted to setting the house ablaze, confirming the homeowner’s allegations.

According to the homeowner, who is Lary’s father, the suspect had been exhibiting signs of anger throughout the day, eventually escalating to a violent outburst. Lary reportedly believed that the property, rented by his father and stepmother from Lary’s mother, should belong to him.

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Allegedly, Lary had previously threatened to burn down the house while his father and stepmother were away at work. The father recounted how Lary ignited a pile of papers and threw them onto a mattress in his room, sparking the deadly fire.

Despite the father’s attempts to evacuate his wife from the burning house, she tragically perished in the blaze, along with two cats and a dog found in the back bedroom after the fire was extinguished.

Timothy Edward Lary has been arrested and charged with neglect of a disabled adult or elder person, cruelty to animals, arson, criminal damage to property, aggravated assault, and murder. He is currently held at the Floyd County Jail pending further legal proceedings.

Editor’s note: This story has been corrected to reflect the relationship between the suspect and the victim.

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