An Owensboro man was indicted this week on two counts of manslaughter stemming from an incident on Dec. 27, 2019, when a structure fire led to the deaths of his grandparents.
Brandon D. Lashbrook, 27, of the 1000 block of Parrish Avenue, was indicted on two counts of second-degree manslaughter — a Class C felony — by the Daviess County Grand Jury.
According to Commonwealth’s Attorney Bruce Kuegel, the fire occurred around 1 a.m. in the 3900 block of Kipling Drive, where Lashbrook’s grandparents lived. David Lashbrook, 77, and Shelby Lashbrook, 82, both died as a result of injuries related to the fire.
Kuegel said the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office spent a lot of time going over the case before determining that a second-degree manslaughter indictment was the most appropriate course of action to take.
A person is charged with second-degree manslaughter — rather than arson, murder or wanton endangerment — when the individual wantonly causes the death of another person, Kuegel said.
“We looked at this for a while on how to charge, and what the proper charge would be,” Kuegel said. “He has been indicted, but he has not been arraigned yet.”
According to police reports and information from the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, Lashbrook expressed “wanton indifference to the value of human life when he failed to report a fire in the room adjacent to [his own] in the residence he and [his grandparents were sharing].”
Lashbrook is believed to have started the fire, Kuegel said, but because the case is ongoing, no other details could be revealed at this time.
Lashbrook is currently lodged at the Daviess County Detention Center for separate charges of fourth-degree assault, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond is currently set at $5,000 full cash. He has been incarcerated since July 17.
