Dec. 05--A Scranton man badly burned in a city arson last month has died.
James Brown, 78, died Tuesday at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, Lehigh County First Deputy Coroner Eric Minnich said. His son, Kevin Brown, 46, 2147 Rockwell Ave., was charged with attempted homicide, arson and recklessly endangering another person. He is accused of setting at least four fires at his home on Nov. 22 after arguing with his father. His father was asleep at the time of the fire.
The death of his father means it is possible the attempted homicide charge could escalate to homicide, but Lackawanna County District Attorney Andy Jarbola said such a decision will be pending the results of mental health evaluations.
Mr. Brown had been scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Monday to determine if there is sufficient evidence to move the case to a higher court, but the hearing was postponed when the defense filed a motion for an evaluation.
The prosecution will have its own expert conduct an evaluation as well, Mr. Jarbola said. If the defense's expert says Mr. Brown is not competent but the prosecution's expert says he is, the decision will then rest with a judge.
An autopsy is scheduled for today to determine the cause of death, Mr. Minnich said.
According to police, before they entered the house, Mr. Brown told them: "Leave my father in there. Let him die."
Mr. Brown remains in Lackawanna County Prison on $500,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 3.
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