http://www.enquirer.com/midday/08/08..._mday_osu.html
OSU arson charges may be dropped
COLUMBUS, Ohio - A prosecutor said he was considering dropping charges against a man suspected of starting the fire that killed five college students - including two from Greater Cincinnati - in a house near Ohio State University.
Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien said he questioned the charges after reviewing a videotaped police interview with Robert Lucky Patterson and interviewing five witnesses whose statements would be critical to gaining an indictment.
"It is rare for our office to interview witnesses prior to presenting a case to the grand jury like that," O'Brien told The Columbus Dispatch for a story today.
The police, fire department and FBI have been asked to forward all their files and evidence to the prosecutor's office, O'Brien said.
He wouldn't say what on the videotape has caused him to reconsider the charges. He will meet with the victims' families today to discuss the case, The Dispatch said.
The blaze killed two Ohio State students and three from Ohio University - including Andrea Kali Dennis, 20, of Madeira, and Kyle Raulin, 20, of West Chester Township. The victims had been among the 80 people who earlier had attended a 21st birthday party at the house for one of those killed.
O'Brien said the decision to dismiss the charges has to be made before Monday, the deadline for seeking an indictment.
If charges against Patterson are dismissed, they can be refiled at any time, O'Brien said.
Police have said Patterson made incriminating statements against himself and that they had witnesses who placed him in the area on the night of the April 13 fire, stealing car stereos.
Homicide Lt. Mary Kerins, acting commander of the detective bureau that is handling the case, said police had worked closely with O'Brien in filing the charges.
She said he was well aware of what evidence they had.
"We were in multiple meetings and discussions about this with prosecutors," Kerins said.
O'Brien said he approved Patterson's arrest a week ago after police told him they had a confession.
Patterson was charged with five counts of aggravated murder, three counts of attempted aggravated murder and nine counts of aggravated arson.
On Monday, a Franklin County Municipal judge ordered Patterson held without bail after prosecutors said he had threatened witnesses to the fire at the three-story rooming house.
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