POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A Lakeland man was arrested after deputies say he set a house on fire while his roommates were in bed on May 15.
During a press conference on Friday, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said that around 3:15 a.m., Eddie Thomas, 69, woke up his roommate in a group home on Dawn Heights Drive to ask him if he would drive him into town. The Polk County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) said the victim said no, but also noted that Thomas was holding a jug with an unknown liquid.
Watch full report from reporter Mary O'Connell
"We know now he was splashing accelerant in front of every bedroom down the hallway and tried to create a fire barrier so they could not run out of the house," Judd said. "He set the house on fire. He set the house on fire with five folks in there beside himself."
PCSO said the victim reported the smell of gas and heard a boom, only to find flames in the hallway. PCSO said the victim used a walker, and while trying to get to the front door, he fell and had to crawl, causing him to suffer burns to his hand and feet. PCSO said he was taken to a local hospital and transferred to a hospital in Bradenton for burn care.
"Victim #2 crawled out the window. Victim #3 ran through the flames," said Sheriff Judd.
PCSO said one victim could not be interviewed because he required emergency surgery for his injuries.
PCSO said victims reported the hallway floor was wet and slippery. According to the Sheriff's Office, State Fire Marshal investigators, along with their canine, detected six accelerant alert points and identified two pour patterns.
"The dude is as mean as a snake," Judd said.
On May 20, Thomas was taken into custody. He was charged with five counts of attempted first-degree murder and first-degree arson.
Officials said Thomas had lived in the house since 2023, but he was served an eviction notice.
"This was a deliberate and dangerous act that put multiple lives at risk. Eddie Thomas showed a complete disregard for human life yet again when he set this fire, knowing the victims were inside," Judd said.
The home was declared a total loss.
Keeley Sterling lives in the neighborhood, recalling the smoke and the smell.
"It was about four in the morning, and the whole neighborhood smelled like gasoline, I'm assuming from the cars going up in flames," said Sterling. "There was firefighters and ambulances."
Judd said Thomas has an extensive criminal history, including the murder of his wife in 1986, for which he was sentenced to 17 years in prison. He also pled no contest in 2008 to lewd and lascivious contact with a victim between 12 and 16.
“You know, it might just be time we take a look if HOAs are really even necessary.
Maybe we should just do away with homeowner associations as a whole.”
South Florida lawmaker Rep. Juan Carlos Porras (R-Miami) says it may be time to do away with homeowners associations altogether, as more Floridians speak out about rising fees, costly lawsuits, and even arrests tied to HOA disputes. He said this week that he is considering filing legislation in the next session that would abolish HOAs statewide.
