A Hinton man is no longer charged with setting the fire that burned down the Brick Row Apartments in Hinton last February.
Summers County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Kristen Cook tells MetroNews prosecutors didn’t oppose the motion made by Billy Gill’s attorney during a Friday court hearing.
“The fire marshal can’t find the way the fire was started,” Cook said. “We can’t meet the burden of proof.”
Eleven residences were destroyed and 30 people left looking for other places to live following the Feb. 26 blaze.
Gill still faces another first degree arson charge for a fire earlier that night. That blaze happened at a house on 5th Ave. in Hinton. Gill also faces two counts of attempted murder in that case. His trial is scheduled for July.
Assistant Prosecutor Cook did point out the investigation remains open into the Brick Row fire and charges could be refilled by prosecutors against Gill if new evidence is discovered.
“Absolutely,” she said. “We definitely aren’t ruling anything out. It’s always an open investigation.”
Gill remains in jail on $200,000 bail.