STEPHANIE ZEILSTRA
Reprint by permission of St. Joseph News-Press, St. Joseph, MO

Photo Courtesy of St. Joseph News-Press Platte County authorities charged Jason Hendrix, 26, with starting a fire that led to the death of a volunteer firefighter. Inside This Story Bagpipes Wail for Fallen MO Firefighter FF Who Confessed Pleaded Innocent in Arson Blaze That Claimed Another Missouri Firefighter Dies in Rollover Firefighter dies when tanker overturns Volunteer firefighter killed Inside Forward: E-Mail This Page to a Friend or Co-Worker Thoughts: Post/View Condolences

PLATTE CITY, MO. -- Murder charges were filed Monday against the man who confessed to starting a blaze that contributed to the death of a fellow firefighter.

Jason Hendrix, 26, of Dearborn, Mo., was charged Monday with second-degree murder, said Todd Graves, Platte County prosecutor.

Other charges brought against Mr. Hendrix were first-degree property damage and five counts of negligently setting fire to a woodland, grassland or cropland.

Mr. Hendrix was charged June 5 with second-degree arson.

Travis Brown, 30, of Edgerton, Mo., a member of the Dearborn Fire Department, was killed June 2 responding to the accident when the tanker truck overturned. The fire at a barn in rural Platte County was allegedly set by Mr. Hendrix.

The Platte County Sheriff’s Department and Platte County prosecuting attorney’s office have been working to determine if the felony-murder rule applied.

Mr. Graves said an intent to murder isn’t needed to be able to charge a person under the felony-murder rule, only that the person intended to commit the underlying crime.

Mr. Hendrix will be formally charged during the arraignment at 9 a.m. today in Platte County Circuit Court.

Mr. Hendrix was a volunteer with the Edgerton Trimble Fire Department. Rick Lumm, a volunteer chaplain with the Edgerton Trimble Fire Department, said this is a difficult time for the community.