LAFAYETTE – The teenager facing arson charges for setting fire to a rural Lafayette barn last Saturday tried to cover his tracks.But his shoe prints put him at the scene and his confession led to his arrest.
17-year-old Skylar Reed of Lafayette is accused of starting a fire early Saturday morning on rural property owned by Steve Mages of New Ulm and Gregory Mages of Sleepy Eye.
Nicollet County dispatch received a 9-1-1 call from Reed at 2:23 a.m. saying he was driving home on County Road 1 when he saw a large fire.
When Lafayette fire fighters arrived on scene about 15 minutes later they found the barn burned to the foundation.
Law enforcement say they found the conditions at the scene suspicious. Those suspicions were confirmed later when the owners said multiple pieces of equipment had been used and items moved around the property.
Investigators also found the same set of shoe prints all around the property. The prints were made by a particular set of Nike running shoes. The same shoe prints were found in fire extinguisher residue inside a skid loader.
They also discover two diesel fuel tanks had been allowed to drain out onto the ground. One with 98 gallons and another with 77 gallons.
The following Tuesday, Nicollet County Investigator Marc Chadderdon went to interview Reed at his home in Lafayette. Reed's mother, was present.
Reed first told Chadderdon that he was driving backroads home after too many "beers and rootbeer schnapps" at a bonfire. He saw the fire and went to look for occupants.
As the questioning continued, Reed admitted to using the skid loader and being in other buildings.
He then allegedly admitted to setting the fire by putting cushions found in the barn on a table and lighting them on fire.
Reed said he watched the fire grow and then called 9-1-1.
Court records show Judge Allison Krehbiel sent Reed to the Carver County Juvenile Detention Center on Wednesday.
A motion has also been filed to refer the case to adult court.