Arson suspected at Kan. home where sheriff killed

The house in rural southeast Kansas where Greenwood County Sheriff Matt Samuels was killed in 2005 burned down and authorities suspect arson.

Three properties at Hilltop in Greenwood County, including the house where Samuels was serving a warrant in January 2005 when he was shot and killed, were destroyed by fire April 19, according to authorities, including the house where Samuels was serving a warrant in January 2005 when he was shot and killed.

Scott Cheever, 23, is charged with capital murder in the January 2005 shooting death the sheriff and awaits trial.

All three properties were owned by Daniel Cooper and the Cooper family. The state fire marshal’s office was notified and Greenwood County Sheriff Mark Kenneson said evidence was collected for an arson investigation.

Cheever’s trial is set to begin in October. Pretrial motions are scheduled for mid-May.

Besides capital murder, Cheever also is charged with four counts of attempted capital murder and one count each of manufacturing methamphetamine and criminal possession of a firearm.