Troy man charged with killing girlfriend’s 69-year-old mother by setting duplex on fire
A 40-year-old Troy man has been charged with murder, attempted murder and arson for allegedly dousing his girlfriend with gasoline and starting a fire that killed her mother.
First responders pulled Michael Sloan Jr. from the fire Thursday, according to a news release Tuesday from Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine’s office. Sloan remains hospitalized.
On Friday, Sloan’s girlfriend, Courtney Tomlinson, 39, had speculated that he was dead and said, “My boyfriend killed my mom and killed himself.” But authorities didn’t confirm his death.
On Tuesday, Haine’s office charged Sloan with three counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder, one count of aggravated arson and one count of aggravated unlawful restraint.
“This was a senseless act of violence that shook the community,” Haine stated in the news release.
“Our office extends sympathy to the family as well as the witnesses, police officers and firefighters who were there as this tragedy unfolded. Thanks to their courage, bravery and great police work, our office can and will fight for justice for the victims.”
Madison County Coroner Steve Nonn’s office had confirmed Friday that Susanne Tomlinson, 69, died in Thursday’s fire in the 500 block of Wood Thrush Street. An autopsy showed that smoke inhalation was the cause of death.
According to Tuesday’s news release, Haine expects evidence to show:
- Troy police were called Thursday to a domestic disturbance at a duplex on Wood Thrush Street.
- Courtney Tomlinson lived in that duplex with Michael Sloan.
Sloan ordered Courtney Tomlinson to bind herself with zip-ties on her wrists, covered her with gasoline, held a knife to her throat and stated that he was going to kill her.
- Courtney Tomlinson managed to free herself from the zip-ties and fled to a neighbor’s residence.
- Sloan then went to Susanne Tomlinson’s duplex down the street, carrying a can of gasoline.
- Moments after police arrived, a large fire erupted at Susanne Tomlinson’s duplex.
- Flames and heavy smoke hindered attempts to get into the duplex.
Madison County Judge Janet Heflin set Sloan’s bail at $1 million.
First-degree murder carries a sentence of 20-60 years in prison. Attempted first-degree murder and aggravated arson are punishable by up to 30 years in prison, while aggravated unlawful restraint is punishable by up to five years in prison.
Courtney Tomlinson told a reporter Friday that she met Sloan about two years ago, when both were working at the Lotawata Creek restaurant in Fairview Heights, and that he moved in with her and her two children, ages 12 and 9.
The relationship deteriorated in recent months with bouts of domestic violence, according to Tomlinson.
“I was kicking him out,” she said Friday. “He owed me money, and I was getting ready to pack his things (on Thursday). … He zip-tied my hands and put a knife to my throat. I broke out of it. I was fighting him. I don’t know how I’m alive today.”
Courtney Tomlinson said Sloan then threw gasoline in her face and, after she went to a neighbor’s duplex to wash it off, she saw him walking toward Susanne Tomlinson’s duplex carrying a can of gasoline.
“He threw gas in my mom’s face,” Courtney Tomlinson said. “She couldn’t see. She was screaming for help. He threw her on the floor and said ‘Everybody is going to die today.’ He locked the door, and he was in there with her (when the fire broke out).”
Troy Police Chief Brent Shownes confirmed Friday that officers were dispatched to a domestic disturbance call in the 500 block of Wood Thrush Street about 2:49 p.m. Thursday and noticed the fire burning in a different duplex on the same block across the street.
Kevin Manso, Troy’s interim fire chief, said it took firefighters about three hours to extinguish the flames, but they remained on scene “well into the night” as the police investigation got underway.
“We have more questions than answers,” Shownes told a reporter outside Susanne Tomlinson’s duplex on Friday. “As soon as we get more information, we’ll send out another press release. It’s going to be a lengthy investigative process.”
The fire destroyed Susanne Tomlinson’s small duplex with white siding and brick trim, as well as her burgundy Nissan Altima SL in the driveway. It also killed her dog, according to family and friends.
Susanne Tomlinson, nee Susanne Hogue, formerly lived in Edwardsville and Holiday Shores. Neighbors described her as a friendly woman who loved gardening and hanging out with Sydney, a pit bull and Labrador mix that she got from rescue organization.
On Friday, Courtney Tomlinson said her two children weren’t home during the argument with Sloan. When their school bus arrived to drop them off in the afternoon, the bus driver kept them on board after seeing first responders dealing with the fire.
This story was originally published September 27, 2022 at 5:06 PM.
