Paynesville Man Who Killed His Daughter in a Fire Set to be Sentenced Friday

(KNSI) – The man accused of setting a trailer on fire with his daughter inside, killing her, is set to be sentenced today.

In July of 2019, police say John Newport had gotten into a fight with his daughter, 22-year-old Jamey Newport, and wrote a Facebook post saying he would burn down the mobile home where Jamey lived. A 911 call came in about 7:00 the evening of July 23rd that a man had poured gasoline all over the interior and exterior of the home and lit it on fire, with Jamey still inside.

By the time help arrived, the home was fully engulfed. Firefighters found Jamey in the bathroom. Officials say she was suffering from smoke inhalation. Life saving measures were taken at the scene before Jamey was rushed to Paynesville Hospital, where she died. Her father was at the scene and taken to the St. Cloud Hospital and then booked into the Stearns County jail for second-degree murder.

Newport pleaded guilty to second-degree unintentional murder while committing a felony on April 19th of 2021. Newport faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.

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