Talihina man accused of starting fire that killed wife, children

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A southeast Oklahoma man is accused of starting a Dec. 1 fire that killed his wife and three children. <br><br>Leland Steward, 28, of Talihina was arrested in Lebanon, Mo., state Fire

Thursday, December 20th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A southeast Oklahoma man is accused of starting a Dec. 1 fire that killed his wife and three children.

Leland Steward, 28, of Talihina was arrested in Lebanon, Mo., state Fire Marshal spokesman Richard Cooper said.

Steward faces four counts of murder and one count of arson.

The fire killed Amanda Steward, 28, and her children, Catherine, 7, Christopher, 5, and Nora, 4.

Fire investigators believe Leland Steward started the fire with a flammable liquid near a wood stove, Cooper said.

Steward said he dove out of the home through a window, but investigators found the window was broken from the outside, Cooper said.