CASTLE SHANNON, Pa. — Allegheny County’s District Attorney is sitting down exclusively with Channel 11 to talk about the case against a local father charged with setting a gasoline-fueled fire that killed his daughter.
Beloved Pitt sophomore, Lakyn Shelleby, died in the fire. Her mother survived, but with serious burns and now Lakyn’s father, 46-year-old Brian Shelleby is charged with homicide and aggravated arson.
Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala tells Channel 11 that domestic violence knows no bounds and crimes of this nature are steady, if not more prevalent.
“The first question I had was - did he intend to kill his daughter?” Zappala tells Channel 11. “His animus appeared to be directed toward his wife ... You look at your child in that type of position and you can’t help but feel this is extreme.”
If the allegations are true that Shelleby poured gasoline in the home and lit it on fire, Zappala says Shelleby intended to do a lot of damage.
“Once you put an accelerant in play like gasoline, you never know what’s going to happen,” Zappala added. “Apparently, the gasoline was poured in an area that was approximate to the kitchen.”
The DA also wants to know about Brian Shelleby’s physical and mental state in the moments before the fire.
“I want to know if he was intoxicated,” Zappala tells Channel 11. “I want to know if he was under the influence of drugs. I want to know if he has a mental health problem. Anything that would explain, as best we can, to the public, why these steps were taken.”
He’s also working with the medical examiner’s officer to determine if Lakyn died from smoke inhalation or in the fire itself. He says that’s a detail he wants to be able to provide.
Zappala says Lakyn’s mom has burns over most of her body, but she is expected to survive.
“Obviously, she’ll be without her daughter and if our allegations are sustained, she’ll be without her husband forever,” Zappala added.
Brian Shelleby is currently behind bars at the Allegheny County Jail. He will be in front of a judge answering to the charges against him on September 26.
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