A Bassett man was charged with attempted murder in connection with an incident in the Claudville community of Patrick County, according to a release from Patrick County Sheriff Dan Smith.
Smith said the incident occurred around 3:40 a.m. on December 7, when video surveillance allegedly captured footage of a man with a gasoline can and the occupied home at 23 Mills School Road being ignited. The home is located in the Claudville area of the county.
Shortly after 4 a.m. that day, a man crashed his vehicle approximately 12 miles from the home, Smith said.
Daniel Shields Reynolds, 39, was arrested by the Virginia State Police as a result of the crash, and charged with driving under the influence, Smith said.
On the afternoon of December 7, the resident at 23 Mills School Road discovered smoldering melted siding and other burned material on her home, and contacted the sheriff’s office, Smith said, adding that Reynolds had been released from the Patrick County Jail just before the call reporting the fire damage.
Smith said that Reynolds and the resident at 23 Mills School Road had been involved in a relationship.
“That fact that the home did not become fully engulfed in flames is a miracle, otherwise we would most likely be dealing with a loss of life,” Smith said in a Friday release.
Smith said the Henry County Sheriff’s Office was “an enormous help in locating and arresting Reynolds” in connection with the incident.
Currently, Reynolds is being held without bond in the Patrick County Jail. In addition to attempted murder, he also is charged with arson in connection with the incident.
Sheriff lieutenants Foley and Steve Austin are handling the case. Anyone with information is urged to contact Foley at (276) 692-6660 or Austin at (276) 692-5950.
