Arrest made two years after fire kills Chatham woman

A man has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with a fatal fire in Chatham in 2022.

Chatham-Kent police reported Tuesday afternoon that David William Thomas was arrested Friday in Fanny Bay, British Columbia, and charged with first-degree murder, five counts of arson, neglect of human life, indignity to a corpse and arson for fraudulent purposes. .

The charges stem from an overnight house fire on June 25, 2022 at 149 Edgar Street in Chatham, where occupant Bayli Sellars, 22, was found deceased.

Thomas appears on the obituary as her father.

Bailey Sellars. (Photo via McKinlay Funeral Home)

“An investigation has commenced into the origin of the fire and to determine Sellars’ cause of death. Since receiving the initial call, multiple agencies have been involved in this investigation, including members of the Chatham-Kent Fire Department, the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office, the Regional Coroner’s Office. , Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and members of the Chatham-Kent Police Service,” CK Police said in a press release.

A Canada-wide warrant was issued for the arrest of Thomas, 48, on May 7, 2024.

The accused made a court appearance in British Columbia on Friday and another court appearance in Chatham on Tuesday. He was remanded in custody, and his next court date is set for June 11, 2024.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Agent Brad Hyatt at 519-436-6600 Ext. 288 or [email protected].