Man Charged in Arson that Killed Two

Montgomery, IL. - A man was charged Sunday for allegedly fatally lighting his cousin on fire in a arson blaze that also killed his brother and injured two others Saturday morning at their southwest suburban Montgomery home.

Theddias Amone LeSure, 21, of 2415 Riva Ridge Rd. in Montgomery, was charged Sunday with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated arson and residential arson, according to a Kendall County State’s Attorney’s office release.

Judge Timothy J. McCann set bond at $1 million at a Sunday hearing at the Kendall County Courthouse at 807 W. John St. in Yorkville and LeSure remained in the Kendall County Correctional Facility Sunday evening, the release said.

Bristol-Kendall Fire Protection District firefighters responded to LeSure’s home just after midnight Saturday and found the residence engulfed in flames, according to the release.

Matthew LeSure, 20, and Maurice Vaughn, 32, were found dead inside the home and Kevin LeSure and Nakia LeSure were injured when they jumped from the second-floor window to escape the flames, the release said. All the victims lived in the home with Theddias Amone LeSure.

Montgomery police Deputy Chief Dan Meyer said the man and woman who jumped from the window, both in their 20s, suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Theddias Amone LeSure was also taken to a hospital, but released by medical personnel.

Montgomery police learned Theddias Amone LeSure poured gasoline onto his cousin Maurice Vaughn and set him one fire. The blaze spread throughout the home and quickly consumed the residence, the release said.

Matthew LeSure and Theddias Amone LeSure are brothers, according to the release. The relationship between Theddias Amone LeSure, Kevin LeSure and Nakia LeSure was not immediately known.

Multiple police and fire departments, as well as the state fire marshal's office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms assisted Montgomery police.

Firefighters evacuated about 12 nearby homes as flames engulfed the residence -- destroying the house despite the fact that firefighters had the blaze under control in less than 30 minutes.

Nothing remained of the home that existed the evening before; not the walls, not the furniture, not the kitchen sink. Not a single glass window, ceramic coffee cup or article of clothing was left intact.

The houses on either side and the house behind were damaged when heat melted their exterior siding.

Additional charges are pending the outcome of further investigation, the release said.

LeSure will next appear in court at 9 a.m. June 15.

Anyone with information, including photographs or video of the fire, is asked to call Montgomery police Detective Sergeant Gergory Sullivan at (630) 897-8707.