Missouri Man Accused of Laughing While Watching House He Allegedly Set on Fire With Four People Inside Arrested on Arson Charge

INDEPENDENCE, MISSOURI — A Missouri man accused of setting a house on fire while four people were inside — and then allegedly laughing as he watched it burn — has been arrested and charged with arson, according to authorities. 35-year-old Tylor A. Burghoff was taken into custody on Nov. 20 after firefighters and police responded to a morning blaze in an Independence neighborhood.

Witnesses Say the Suspect Stood Outside “Watching and Laughing”

The Independence Fire Department said that although the home filled with smoke, none of the occupants were injured. However, police said witness accounts immediately pointed to Burghoff.

A man walking in the area told officers he saw someone “watching the fire and laughing,” and the description matched Burghoff. Officers detained him about two blocks from the house.

When police searched him, they reportedly found two lighters in his pants pockets. According to a probable cause affidavit, Burghoff denied being near the home or having any involvement in starting the fire.

Victims Inside the Home Identified Him at the Scene

Multiple witnesses — including people who were inside the house — placed Burghoff at the scene. The homeowner told investigators she recognized Burghoff and saw him outside that morning “yelling and laughing.”

Another woman inside the home said she saw Burghoff on the porch holding a blue metal can she believed was a gas can. She said he banged on the door while shouting, but she did not actually witness him ignite the fire.

Two additional people who had been sleeping during the incident did not see the suspect but confirmed the chaos once smoke began filling the home.

Suspect Continues to Deny Involvement

Despite officers telling Burghoff that several witnesses had identified him, he continued to insist that he had not been near the house. Detectives questioned him after reading his rights, but police say he denied all accusations.

Officials noted that the inside of the home did not sustain fire damage, though the exterior and porch area were affected.

Burghoff Held on $30,000 Bond

Burghoff has been charged with arson and booked into the Jackson County Detention Center. He is currently being held on $30,000 bond. His next scheduled court appearance is a bond hearing on Tuesday, followed by a preliminary hearing on December 18.

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