By Echo Menges
Edina, MO – April 16, 2021 – An Edina man has been criminally charged after allegedly lighting the hands of three children on fire.
According to court documents, Robert Gray, 33, of Edina, has been charged with three counts of abuse or neglect of a child, Class D felonies.
The Edina Police Department and the Missouri Department of Social Services Children’s Division began investigating Gray and his fiancee Tiffany Clark on Wednesday, April 7, 2021, after receiving an emergency child abuse report from the Knox County R-1 School District, according to Edina Police Chief Ryan Bishop.
According to the Probable Cause Statement filed in the case, the children allegedly told investigators their dad sprayed their hands with alcohol and ignited them to teach them a lesson, and to show them what fire can do. The children said their dad was mad at them for knocking a heater off of a wall. The incident allegedly took place on Monday, April 5.
Two of the three children reportedly had burns on their hands. The exact ages of the children have not been released to the public.
While being questioned by investigators, Gray allegedly admitted to setting the childrens’ hands on fire to show them that fire is dangerous.
Knox County Prosecutor Corey Moon filed case No. 21KN-CR00028 against Gray on Wednesday, April 14. Moon declined to comment as to whether Clark will be criminally charged for not reporting the abuse.
Gray is scheduled to appear before Knox County Associate Circuit Judge Tom Redington for an initial appearance on April 27.
Editor’s Note: This story was written with information provided by public court documents and law enforcement officers, which is one sided. Robert Gray’s account of the incident is not publicly available. Robert Gray and all criminal case defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
