Two more men charged in arson case

Two additional men have been charged with arson in connection with a Rolla residence that authorities believe was intentionally burned in March of 2012.

Mickey T. Schlicker, 44, of Rolla, was arrested Tuesday by the Rolla Police Department in the 1000 block of North Elm Street on an outstanding warrant for the original charge of arson in the second degree, a class C felony. Schlicker was turned over to the Phelps County Jail.

In addition, Martin D. Valley, 35, of Rolla, also has been charged with arson in the second degree, according to Missouri case.net.

The two men are allegedly connected with two others — Christopher R. Blair, 39, a Farmers Insurance agent from Rolla, and Raymond D. Isgrigg, 49, of Rolla — who were both charged last week with arson in the second degree. Blair entered a plea of not guilty, according to Missouri case.net.

According to court documents, Blair is accused of allegedly hiring one of his employees, Schlicker, to destroy a house he owned in the 1500 block of Spencer Street in Rolla. Schlicker then allegedly paid two other men — Valley and Isgrigg — to burn the home down.

The incident occurred early in the morning of March 27, 2012.

The City of Rolla Fire and Rescue extinguished the blaze and the Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office investigated the fire.

During the investigation, it was learned that Blair allegedly paid Schlicker $100 to have the house destroyed. Schlicker then paid Valley and Isgrigg $50 each to set the house on fire.

Court documents also stated that Schlicker attempted to take his own life during the investigation due to the stress.

According to one of the investigators with the state fire marshal’s office, there were “burn patterns, located on the kitchen floor leading into the living room and up the steps that were consistent with the burning of an ignitable liquid ... There was no accidental cause that would cause the burn pattern found at the scene.”

Additionally, court documents show that Blair also filed a claim on the fire and in April of 2012, he received $64,400. No charges have been filed regarding his insurance claim, according to case.net.