Man killed 2 kids after sexually assaulting 1 of them, set mobile home on fire, investigators say

ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (WALA/Gray News) - Investigators in Florida say a mobile home fire in which two children were found dead was intentionally set after a 27-year-old man allegedly killed both children.

John Henry Walston Jr., 27, is charged with two counts of premeditated murder, one count of sexual assault of a child under 12 and one count of arson, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. He is being held in jail on no bond.

Two children, ages 7 and 9, and a dog were found dead after a mobile home fire in Pensacola. The home was fully engulfed in flames when Escambia County Fire Rescue arrived on the scene just before 1 a.m. Friday.

Sheriff Chip Simmons said in an update Saturday that investigators determined Walston intentionally set fire to the home after sexually assaulting one of the children then killing both of them. Walston ran to safety himself after setting the fire, according to Simmons.

“This is a heartbreaking and senseless act of violence. Our thoughts and prayers go out to these children and their families during this unimaginable time,” the sheriff’s office said.

According to Fire Rescue spokesman Davis Wood, Escambia County EMS treated two adults and one child who were outside the mobile home. They were all taken to area hospitals with fire-related injuries.

Walston was one of the injured adults, Simmons said.

The home was determined to be a total loss.