Man pleads guilty after deadly Napanee rooming house fire

He had originally been charged with first-degree murder.

A man who set fire to a Napanee rooming house last summer has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and arson in a case that shocked the community.

The Kingstonist reports what was supposed to be a preliminary hearing turned into a surprise trial on Friday, May 2, when 32-year-old Andrew Thompson admitted to starting the blaze that killed 67-year-old Walter Lasher on August 3, 2024.

Thompson had originally been charged with first-degree murder, but that charge was withdrawn. The new charges, read in court, were manslaughter and intentionally setting a fire that damaged property.

Court heard that Thompson was in a relationship with a woman living at the rooming house at 159 John Street. On the day of the fire, she told him she had been unfaithful. Hours later, Thompson was caught on surveillance video entering the building with a fire extinguisher and a lighter. Moments later, flames broke out.

Lasher, who had mobility issues, was last seen on video walking to his room. He was later found unconscious by firefighters and pronounced dead in hospital that evening. The cause of death was smoke inhalation.

Detective Constable Aimee Neale of the Ontario Provincial Police presented video evidence showing Thompson trying to set multiple fires. His DNA was found on a butane canister at the scene.

Thompson was identified easily by police due to a distinctive tattoo and a previous arrest at the same address.

Justice Geoffrey Griffin accepted the guilty plea and said Thompson would be sentenced in July. Victim impact statements will be presented at that time.

Griffin thanked Thompson for sparing the Lasher family the pain of a full trial, and said he hoped the guilty plea showed true remorse.

Written by Emily Chatwood