Trial starts for man accused of setting Grandview fire that killed two

A Jackson County trial began Tuesday for a Grandview man accused of setting a house fire in September 2014 that killed his 14-month-old daughter and an adult.

Stephen D. Elijah, 35, faces two counts of second-degree murder and one count of first-degree arson in connection with the fire that ravaged a house in the 12000 block of Belmont Avenue. The blaze killed his 14-month-old daughter, Se’Asia Elijah, and Anika M. Hobley, 37, of Kansas City.

Both victims died of smoke inhalation and other injuries, assistant Jackson County prosecutor Traci Stansell told jurors during opening statements.

Authorities said the blaze began in the basement at the base of a set of stairs and quickly spread. The Missouri fire marshal determined that gasoline had been used to ignite the fire.

Two girls, ages 11 and 6, jumped from a window about 10 feet above the ground to escape the burning house. They knocked on the door of a neighbor, who called 911.

When fire crews arrived and found Elijah in front of the home attempting to put out the blaze with a garden hose. Elijah told them that his infant child was dead on the back deck and that a woman was in the basement.

Two officers tried to revive her. Elijah allegedly told them, “My baby is dead; she doesn’t have a heartbeat.” The officers performed CPR until paramedics arrived.

Elijah also allegedly told officers, “She is always starting fires in the fireplace,” but court documents do not say who “she” was.

Fire crews found Hobley’s body in the basement.

Investigators determined the infant had been in the living room inside a playpen when the fire started.

Although he initially denied involvement, Elijah eventually told investigators that he had set the fire with gasoline.

Stansell said investigators recovered surveillance video of Elijah purchasing gasoline the night before the fire. Investigators found a gas can and several cigarette lighters inside the residence.

Investigators interviewed Elijah on three occasions, and he gave them different accounts of what happened, Stansell said.

“What happened? What took the life of two innocent people?” she said to jurors.

John Bailey, a public defender representing Elijah, told jurors the fire was not intentionally set “but was a product of a terrible accident that had occurred.”

That day, Elijah had poured gasoline on a fire that was about to go out, he said. While pouring gasoline on the fire, the gas can exploded. Elijah threw the can against a wall, causing the flames to spread.

Elijah suffered severe burns to his back. There was no insurance on the house and he received no financial gain from the fire.

“Why would he intentionally set the fire that killed his daughter, who he loved so much?” Bailey said.

This story was originally published May 17, 2016 at 12:30 PM with the headline "Trial starts for man accused of setting Grandview fire that killed two."