MOSCOW, TN (abc24.com) - The mother of Rico Fleming, one of the TBI's Most Wanted, is now a victim. State fire investigators spent the day at her home after it went up in flames late Friday night, saying it appears to be arson.
There is not much left of Rico Fleming's mother's home. Rico Fleming is charged in the Christmas Day murder of 16-year-old Derica Patterson. Rico is still on the run as fire investigators try and figure out where this arson case fits in.
From Memphis, Kelly McDaniel moved out to Moscow for the simpler life - a peace that was interrupted late Friday night.
"My husband was looking at the door because he thought the woods was on fire, but it wasn't, it was the trailer," she said.
The burnt remnants of a home mark where Rico Fleming grew up. In the light of day the trailer is a total loss; a burnt mattress, a lamp and an oven are all that you can really make out among the charred rubble.
"This doesn't just involve Mr. Fleming, there were family members that lived there, there were family members at the residence that were involved that are basically innocent victims of this so we need to put a stop to it as quickly as possible," stated Ray Garcia with the Fayette County Sheriff's Office.
An investigator from the Tennessee Fire Marshal's office spent the day searching for clues, focusing mostly on the rear of the burnt home were the damage is the worst.
Neighbor Jimmy McDaniel noted, "It's terrible for this to happen to them, they didn't do anything, especially this time of year in this economy."
The fire investigation is in its early stages, but it is believed to have been intentionally set - adding another chapter to Rico's story that just doesn't seem to end.
In mid-December, Fleming's home was sprayed with bullets. Fleming's 13-year-old step-brother was hit while he played video games in his bedroom.
The teen recovered, and investigators say that incident and the Christmas Day drive-by shooting murder are not connected.
What is connected is a well-documented trail of crime associated with Rico Fleming.
Garcia added, "It just goes to show you how other people are involved in this and we need to try and put a stop to it, before other people get hurt."
