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Man Charged in Connection with Fire Murder

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Posted: 10:04 PM May 12, 2008
Last Updated: 10:04 PM May 12, 2008
Reporter: Dave Benton
Email Address: dave.benton@wsaz.com

24 comments

A | A | A

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A man is charged with murder in connection with a fatal fire that happened a few days ago.

Deanna O'brian died in the fire, and the man police arrested said even though he told his ex-girlfriend he torched the house, he now tells police he lied to her.

Bradley Watson is charged with murder. Apparently what he told his ex-girlfriend was very similar to what the fire marshal found in his investigation.

Flames shot out of the home at 2688 Collis Ave. Friday night and killed 61-year-old Deanna O'brian.

After his arrest, Watson told police he lied to his ex-girlfriend about starting the fire, but the fire marshal's investigation and details of Watson’s story had many similarities.

Several points he brought up matched with details found in the investigation.

Dave Bias, Huntington Fire Marshal, said he can't go into detail on how the fire started, but he said it did spread quickly due to the balloon frame construction, vinyl siding with foam board and asphalt shingles.

“We’re looking at every angle; from the owner to the neighbors,” Bias said.

Captain Bias said he still has a few more people to interview.

Meanwhile, Bradley Watson is being held in the Western Regional Jail.

Captain bias also said that Watson will be given a lie detector test.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Chasity on Jun 14, 2008 at 02:45 AM
he talked to thomas may thats what i was told and thomas didn't like the fact that alisha and brad was together and he kept threating her that night saying he was gonna burn her alive if she stayed there thats why she didn't stay there so really i think thomas may did it because him threating her and saying that put it together get real but if any one wants to talk to me and get it all worked out call me at 412-6568 or 412-8621 please because brad don't deserve this and we know the truth like i said i do feel bad for the ladys family but brad isn't the guy trust me brads not that kind of guy to put anyone in any danger and i know because i have known him for a long time now long enough to know brad well...me and his sister has been best friends forever and i know their family and none of them have the heart to do something like that and put someone in danger....just please contact me

Posted by: Anonymous on Jun 13, 2008 at 11:32 PM
thats what everyone wants to think.... if he didnt do like u say than how in the world did he get all the details?

Posted by: chasity on Jun 13, 2008 at 02:16 AM
ok for one he didnt do it i know that because that is my best friend and he don't have the heart to do something like that i know brad and for everyone that knows him knows he would never and could never do that there was a little girl in that fire and brad has two of his own he would never put any kid in danger or any one else and he was dating thomas's ex too and thomas and his ex was not getting along thats why she didn't stay up there that night im not sure if it's true or not but i was told that when thomas and a girl breaks up he does something to their new boyfriend so i don't know and his ex ashley said "if he wasn't gonna be with her then he couldn't be with no one else" so she put him in jail thats not right and i know where he was that night because i was there he was at the house with his girl and us because i am best friends with his sister and i have been around for a while now like years so i know brad and he would never ever do some thing like that......

Posted by: Anonymous on Jun 12, 2008 at 09:45 PM
he can call someone and have them three way you.... talk to someone you know he calls and have them tell him....

Posted by: MyDreamWhisper on Jun 12, 2008 at 07:55 PM
I can't have no contact with him or I would talk to him to try to find out what happened... Unfortunately the visiting schedule is conflicting to my work schedule... He can't call me collect due to having a reconnect second- chance type phone... so all I can do is Pray

Posted by: Anonymous on Jun 11, 2008 at 11:25 PM
well if your familly then why dont you tell him to tell who did it for your closure and the sake of mrs. o'brien's familly!!!!!

Posted by: MyDreamWhisper on Jun 10, 2008 at 08:47 PM
Why don't he just tell who did do this... Even if it's someone else that is close to us at least all of us (our familiy and the O'Brian's) would have the closure that we need

Posted by: Anonymous on Jun 9, 2008 at 11:32 PM
maybe his lawyer should tell em to admit it if he did it because his punishment maybe not as long n prison.... we all know he'd like that....

Posted by: DreamWhisper on Jun 6, 2008 at 08:07 PM
Brad is not the type to cough it up...But something is def. not right here...

Posted by: Anonymous on Jun 5, 2008 at 12:40 AM
he said for himself he told his ex all those things but didnt set the fire... if he didnt as he claims then who did? whos he covering for? why would he want to spend time in jail for someone else? cough up a name if you didnt do it.....

Posted by: Ridiculos on May 28, 2008 at 12:14 PM
BAP I agree with you more than ever the family of mrs.obrians are in my prayers but i still say he did not do it. Like i have said one before we all know bradley would not do something like this. Especially if you know him like we do. And yes i know grandpaw and my aunts, uncles and everyone else and the lord knows bradley did not do it and when is proven inoscent then he deserves alot of apologizes from everyone who is doing this. I think they should investigate the one who put my one and only loving brother-in-law in jail. I love him just like i do the rest of the family. We Love You And Miss You Bradley! Thanks BAP and evryone else.

Posted by: BAP on May 27, 2008 at 11:47 AM
OK'THE OBSENE COMMENTS HAVE GOT TO GO THIS IS FAMILY TO ME HE IS NOT GUILTY IF ANYONE SHOULD GET SOMETHING IT SHOULD BE THE ONE WHO LIED TO THE POLICE AND SAID HE DONE IT HE'S INNOCENT I PRAY FOR MRS.O'BRIEN AND THE FAMILY BUT HE WOULD NOT DO THIS LET HIS LAWYER PROVE IT

Posted by: BAP on May 27, 2008 at 11:39 AM
i agree ridiculos he is innocent and it will be proven and we love and care for brad we know he's innocent and granpa knows he's innocent and the good lord above won't let a innocent man go for something he didn.t do

Posted by: ridiculos on May 20, 2008 at 12:57 PM
Yes i know if you don't know someone then don't judge them. You wouldn't like it if you was judge while setting behind bars. Especially if no one knew you. All he wants is to be at home with us and his "family". This is stupid and uncalled for if you don't know someone then don't judge them. Give them a chance to speak out and tell his side of the story instead of listening to the ex-girlfriend who is just mad because he left her she has to make up lies, its ridiculos. So don't start saying things unless you have known him as long as we have and have been around him. For God Sakes give him a chance to speak and tell his side of the story. So don't judge him if you don't know him like we do, PLEASE and THANKS!

Posted by: Mydreamwhisper on May 19, 2008 at 07:13 PM
Thank you.... ridiculos.... People are making judgements who does not even know him.... I think that this is very unfare. also since there is not anough info at this point.... that we the public know to even say anything of guilt at this time....Whay would he do it? is my big question.... can someone tell me that them I might be able to make a partial judgement...

Posted by: ridiculos on May 19, 2008 at 10:54 AM
I think it is rediculos i say he didn't do it. I have known him for years and as long as i have known him he has never done nothing like this and hasn't even talked about doing something like this. If he did why did he tell his gf instead of a family member? You would trust your family before your gf or bf. It's stuid and i don't care what no one says i say that he didn't do it. We love you Bradley.

Posted by: DreamWhisper on May 15, 2008 at 06:20 PM
Logan... who are you to sat that this man is guilty... I have not heard that verdict yet... Have you... You should not judge on this until after everything has been released there is alot more info to this I am sure... Do you know this man you called him by a personal name (Brad) insted of Bradley... Then you place your phone # up here just to get a rage from someone... I pray for the family of this lady as well... But I'm not willing to say weither Mr. Watson is Quilty or not at this point... I have not heard enough evedince yet to charge him with this...

Posted by: jon on May 13, 2008 at 08:19 PM
logan...........you da man!!!!

Posted by: Just me. on May 13, 2008 at 02:03 PM
one thing i can say, i respect his ex for turning him in. it was obvious he trusted her with this information and probably wasn't expecting her to turn him in. However, I'm sure it was something she couldn't live with.

Posted by: logan on May 13, 2008 at 10:59 AM
to have no regard for someone's life as this man did, his life deserves no regard. i pray for the family of mrs. o brian. this man deserves prison time to reflect every day that he took a life recklessly and cowardly. i thank god that he is arrested and i hope his punishment fits the crime. if you are man enough to do the crime, then you are man enough to do the time. i think he deserves a lighter continuously on his body with no way to put it out. mrs. obrian suffered til her death. i think brad needs the same thing done to him. 740- 352- 4150 is my number for any and all comments.

Posted by: Jessica on May 13, 2008 at 09:21 AM
Thank you WSAZ for removing the girl's name. :)

Posted by: Just Me on May 13, 2008 at 05:13 AM
This is unreal! I can't believe someone could do this and then brag about it! The worse part of it is, no matter what he is convicted of and what his punishment is, he will never suffer like Ms. O'Brian did and like her family must be. What is wrong with people like this?

Posted by: putnam co on May 13, 2008 at 01:13 AM
SAD SAD SAD.

Posted by: shaunda on May 12, 2008 at 11:17 PM
should'nt play with fire you get burned.

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