O’Fallon man accused of setting family home on fire charged with attempted murder

An O’Fallon man accused of setting his house on fire with his wife and 15-year-old son inside faces multiple criminal charges.

St. Clair County State’s Attorney Jim Gomric charged Ronald J. Warhoover Jr., 40, with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated arson, both Class X felonies. Warhoover also faces charges of aggravated domestic battery, a Class 2 felony, and unlawful interference with the reporting of domestic violence, a misdemeanor.

Warhoover was indicted by a St. Clair County grand jury on Friday. An attorney for Warhoover is not yet listed in court records.

Charging documents allege Warhoover poured fuel on the first floor of the family’s two-story home, lit it on fire and prevented his wife and son from leaving. He is also accused of strangling his wife and preventing her from calling 911 by taking away her cellphone.

Capt. David Matevey of the O’Fallon Police Department said officers responded to the home in the 1200 block of South Walnut Street at 8 a.m June 7. They saw Warhoover leaving in his car at the time, according to Matevey.

Matevey said police have responded to domestic calls at the home in the past but declined to specify the nature of the incidents.

Court records show Warhoover’s only other criminal charge in St. Clair or Madison counties was a conviction in 2008 for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, a misdemeanor. Charging documents in that case allege he was carrying an uncased and loaded pistol in an unauthorized area under Illinois concealed carry laws.

Matevey said Warhoover was taken into custody on June 7, the day of the fire. He was charged June 8. Warhoover is currently being held at a hospital for unspecified medical reasons, according to Matevey.

Warhoover’s next court date is not listed in court records.