Topline: Investigators say the suspect used gasoline to trap residents inside the burning home before fleeing the scene.
Published: May 25, 2025 7:00 am ET
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Eddie Thomas (via Polk County Sheriff's Office)
LAKELAND, FL — A Florida man with a violent criminal history is back in custody after allegedly setting fire to a home with five people inside, sending two to the hospital with serious injuries.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to the blaze early Thursday morning, May 15, on Dawn Heights Drive. Upon arrival, they found five residents had been in the home when the fire broke out. Two suffered serious burns, including one who required emergency surgery.
According to investigators, 69-year-old Eddie Thomas, a resident of the home, ignited the fire shortly after 3:15 a.m.
Police say Thomas had entered another resident’s bedroom earlier that morning asking for a ride. When the request was denied, he asked for jumper cables, holding a plastic milk jug filled with an unknown liquid. Minutes later, the resident reported smelling gasoline and hearing a loud “boom.”
The resident opened his door to find flames in the hallway.
The victim, who has limited mobility and uses a walker, fell while trying to escape and had to crawl out of the home, sustaining burns to his hands and feet. He was first transported to a local hospital, then transferred to a burn center in Bradenton.
Other victims described similar chaotic and harrowing escapes. One was forced to crawl out of a bedroom window to flee the fire. Another fled his room only to trip over a fellow resident who was already on the ground. A fourth reported hearing splashing sounds and the smell of kerosene before seeing flames trail from an oak tree in the yard into the home. The fifth victim, who underwent surgery, has not yet been interviewed as of Friday evening.
All victims reported a strong gasoline odor and a slippery floor, police said.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office confirmed six accelerant alert points inside the home and found two pour patterns consistent with arson.
Two residents saw Thomas backing out of the driveway in his red Chevrolet truck as the fire spread.
The home’s landlord told deputies she was contacted by one of the victims who said Thomas had set the fire. Though Thomas had lived in the home since 2023 without issue, she had recently served him with an eviction notice due to ongoing disputes and non-payment of rent. He was scheduled to vacate the premises by May 20.
Sheriff Grady Judd did not mince words following Thomas’s arrest on May 20.
“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. Thanks to our detectives, we have him in custody, and justice will be served,” Judd said.
Thomas has been charged with five counts of attempted first-degree murder and first-degree arson.
The Criminal History of Eddie Thomas
According to police, Thomas’ criminal record spans decades and includes 18 felony charges and four previous stints in state prison. In 1986, he was convicted of second-degree murder after breaking into a home and fatally shooting his estranged wife. He was also convicted of grand theft and burglary in that case and served a 17-year prison sentence.
In 2008, Thomas was sentenced to 15 years for lewd or lascivious conduct involving a minor and became a registered sex offender. He was last released from state prison in June 2023 and completed probation in January 2024.
With this latest arrest, Thomas’s long history of violence and disregard for the law appears to have culminated in a new round of serious charges—this time, for a crime that could have killed five people.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Florida Man Who Set House Fire That Trapped 5 People Inside Has History of Murder, Sexual Battery, and Violent Crimes
Investigators say the suspect used gasoline to trap residents inside the burning home before fleeing the scene.
By Jacob Charles
Published: May 25, 2025 7:00 am ET
Eddie Thomas (via Polk County Sheriff's Office)
LAKELAND, FL — A Florida man with a violent criminal history is back in custody after allegedly setting fire to a home with five people inside, sending two to the hospital with serious injuries.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to the blaze early Thursday morning, May 15, on Dawn Heights Drive. Upon arrival, they found five residents had been in the home when the fire broke out. Two suffered serious burns, including one who required emergency surgery.
According to investigators, 69-year-old Eddie Thomas, a resident of the home, ignited the fire shortly after 3:15 a.m.
Police say Thomas had entered another resident’s bedroom earlier that morning asking for a ride. When the request was denied, he asked for jumper cables, holding a plastic milk jug filled with an unknown liquid. Minutes later, the resident reported smelling gasoline and hearing a loud “boom.”
The resident opened his door to find flames in the hallway.
The victim, who has limited mobility and uses a walker, fell while trying to escape and had to crawl out of the home, sustaining burns to his hands and feet. He was first transported to a local hospital, then transferred to a burn center in Bradenton.
Other victims described similar chaotic and harrowing escapes. One was forced to crawl out of a bedroom window to flee the fire. Another fled his room only to trip over a fellow resident who was already on the ground. A fourth reported hearing splashing sounds and the smell of kerosene before seeing flames trail from an oak tree in the yard into the home. The fifth victim, who underwent surgery, has not yet been interviewed as of Friday evening.
All victims reported a strong gasoline odor and a slippery floor, police said.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office confirmed six accelerant alert points inside the home and found two pour patterns consistent with arson.
Two residents saw Thomas backing out of the driveway in his red Chevrolet truck as the fire spread.
The home’s landlord told deputies she was contacted by one of the victims who said Thomas had set the fire. Though Thomas had lived in the home since 2023 without issue, she had recently served him with an eviction notice due to ongoing disputes and non-payment of rent. He was scheduled to vacate the premises by May 20.
Sheriff Grady Judd did not mince words following Thomas’s arrest on May 20.
“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. Thanks to our detectives, we have him in custody, and justice will be served,” Judd said.
Thomas has been charged with five counts of attempted first-degree murder and first-degree arson.
The Criminal History of Eddie Thomas
According to police, Thomas’ criminal record spans decades and includes 18 felony charges and four previous stints in state prison. In 1986, he was convicted of second-degree murder after breaking into a home and fatally shooting his estranged wife. He was also convicted of grand theft and burglary in that case and served a 17-year prison sentence.
In 2008, Thomas was sentenced to 15 years for lewd or lascivious conduct involving a minor and became a registered sex offender. He was last released from state prison in June 2023 and completed probation in January 2024.
With this latest arrest, Thomas’s long history of violence and disregard for the law appears to have culminated in a new round of serious charges—this time, for a crime that could have killed five people.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Florida Man Who Set House Fire That Trapped 5 People Inside Has History of Murder, Sexual Battery, and Violent Crimes
Investigators say the suspect used gasoline to trap residents inside the burning home before fleeing the scene.
By Jacob Charles
Published: May 25, 2025 7:00 am ET
Eddie Thomas (via Polk County Sheriff's Office)
LAKELAND, FL — A Florida man with a violent criminal history is back in custody after allegedly setting fire to a home with five people inside, sending two to the hospital with serious injuries.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to the blaze early Thursday morning, May 15, on Dawn Heights Drive. Upon arrival, they found five residents had been in the home when the fire broke out. Two suffered serious burns, including one who required emergency surgery.
According to investigators, 69-year-old Eddie Thomas, a resident of the home, ignited the fire shortly after 3:15 a.m.
Police say Thomas had entered another resident’s bedroom earlier that morning asking for a ride. When the request was denied, he asked for jumper cables, holding a plastic milk jug filled with an unknown liquid. Minutes later, the resident reported smelling gasoline and hearing a loud “boom.”
The resident opened his door to find flames in the hallway.
The victim, who has limited mobility and uses a walker, fell while trying to escape and had to crawl out of the home, sustaining burns to his hands and feet. He was first transported to a local hospital, then transferred to a burn center in Bradenton.
Other victims described similar chaotic and harrowing escapes. One was forced to crawl out of a bedroom window to flee the fire. Another fled his room only to trip over a fellow resident who was already on the ground. A fourth reported hearing splashing sounds and the smell of kerosene before seeing flames trail from an oak tree in the yard into the home. The fifth victim, who underwent surgery, has not yet been interviewed as of Friday evening.
All victims reported a strong gasoline odor and a slippery floor, police said.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office confirmed six accelerant alert points inside the home and found two pour patterns consistent with arson.
Two residents saw Thomas backing out of the driveway in his red Chevrolet truck as the fire spread.
The home’s landlord told deputies she was contacted by one of the victims who said Thomas had set the fire. Though Thomas had lived in the home since 2023 without issue, she had recently served him with an eviction notice due to ongoing disputes and non-payment of rent. He was scheduled to vacate the premises by May 20.
Sheriff Grady Judd did not mince words following Thomas’s arrest on May 20.
“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. Thanks to our detectives, we have him in custody, and justice will be served,” Judd said.
Thomas has been charged with five counts of attempted first-degree murder and first-degree arson.
The Criminal History of Eddie Thomas
According to police, Thomas’ criminal record spans decades and includes 18 felony charges and four previous stints in state prison. In 1986, he was convicted of second-degree murder after breaking into a home and fatally shooting his estranged wife. He was also convicted of grand theft and burglary in that case and served a 17-year prison sentence.
In 2008, Thomas was sentenced to 15 years for lewd or lascivious conduct involving a minor and became a registered sex offender. He was last released from state prison in June 2023 and completed probation in January 2024.
With this latest arrest, Thomas’s long history of violence and disregard for the law appears to have culminated in a new round of serious charges—this time, for a crime that could have killed five people.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
