Pineville man arrested for alleged arson resulting in homicide

RAPIDES PARISH, La ( WNTZ ) – UPDATE: Sheriff’s Detectives, Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s investigating weekend structure fire that claimed one life.

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RAPIDES PARISH, La ( WNTZ ) – On March 30, 2024, Patrol Deputies responded to the 300 block of Williams Lake Road in reference to a structure fire. Upon arriving at the scene, deputies learned from the Holiday Village Fire Department that there was a deceased person in the abandoned residence.

Due to the nature of the fire involving a death, the Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office responded and started their investigation.  An autopsy was completed on the deceased adult male, and the forensic examiner ruled the death a homicide. Once it was ruled a homicide, the State Fire Marshal’s Office contacted Sheriff’s Detectives so they could resume the investigation.

While the investigation was ongoing, Sheriff’s Detectives were made aware by the State Fire Marshal’s Office that DNA from the deceased had been submitted to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for identification.  Last week, Sheriff’s Detectives received positive identification that the deceased was identified as Buster Evans of Bohannon Rd, Pineville, La.

From their investigation, Sheriffs’ Detectives were able to establish Philip Barry Felter, of Pineville, La as their main suspect.  With the assistance of the Louisiana Department of Probation and Parole, Felter was taken into custody without incident on April 11 ^th , 2024, and booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center for 3 counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

Felter remained in jail and on April 16, 2024, the Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office booked Felter in connection with the structure fire on one count Simple Arson, Principle to Simple Arson, Obstruction of Justice-Evidence Tampering and Conspiracy .

Sheriff’s Detectives continued their investigation and were able to establish sufficient probable cause to charge Felter with 2 ^nd degree murder and unlawful disposal of human remains .  On April 24, 2024, Felter was re-arrested while in custody at the Rapides Parish Detention Center where he remains at this time, being held on a $1,230,000.00 bond .

Sheriff’s Detectives, along with investigators with the Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office, say this is still an active investigation and if anyone has any information about these crimes, they are asked to contact Detective Matt Dauzat, Criminal Investigation Division, Kolin Substation, at 318-542-4409.  Callers may also contact the Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Arson Tip Line at 866-946-1097 or Arson Tip Form on lasfm.org

Sheriff’s Detectives would like to thank the Holiday Village Fire Department, the Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office, the Louisiana Office of Probation and Parole, and the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for their assistance in this investigation.

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