The trial for the man allegedly responsible for setting fire to a Guthrie Center home and killing two young girls inside begins tomorrow in Decatur County.

Patrick Ryan Thompson of Ames will stand trial at the Decatur County Courthouse in Leon beginning with jury selection tomorrow. The 28-year-old is facing two class A felonies for first degree murder, two class B felonies for attempted murder, and one class C felony for first degree arson for the May 2017 incident. The fire resulted in the deaths of 12-year-old Paige Exline and 16-year-old Shakiah Cockerham.

The trial is the latest in a series of connected cases. Last month Thompson’s stepfather James Exline was sentenced to 75 years in prison for sexually abusing Paige between June 2016 and April 2017. Noah Exline, Paige’s brother and Thompson’s stepbrother, is scheduled to have his trial in October. He faces several felony charges for sexually abusing Paige.

Paige and Cockerham’s grandmother Shirley Exline, as well as their uncle William Long III, were injured in the fire but survived. The trial was originally scheduled to take place in Guthrie County, but was moved to Decatur County on September 6th due to excess media exposure and the inability to select a fair jury.

Thompson faces up to life in prison without parole if convicted of first degree murder, and up to 25 years if convicted on any of the other charges. Raccoon Valley Radio will bring you daily updates from the trial.