Best man charged with setting Hampton newlyweds' house on fire

Virginian Pilot ^ | 28 April 2005

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Best man charged with setting Hampton newlyweds' house on fire

Associated Press
© April 28, 2005
Last updated: 12:05 PM

HAMPTON -- Police have charged the best man at a couple's wedding with setting the newlyweds' house on fire while they were away on their honeymoon.

Joseph Overton, 27, of Hampton, was charged with burning and destroying a dwelling and manufacturing and use of an explosive device, Fire Marshal Rick Rickett said.

He would not say what the motive was, but said it was not racially driven. Del. Thomas Gear, R-Hampton, the bride's father, had feared the blaze could have been a hate crime.

The house belonged to the former Shannon Gear, 32, who is white, and her new husband, Anthony Williams, who is black. Overton also is black, Rickett said.

The couple were honeymooning in Mexico. They were due home late Wednesday.

Overton was arrested at the fire marshal's office after he was asked to appear there to answer some questions about clues found at the scene, Rickett said.

The couple's home is located in Hampton's Phoebus section.

Neighbor Helena Cooper said she was awakened by firefighters banging on her door Tuesday at 12:30 a.m.

"It was just lighting up my whole front of my house," said Cooper, whose home also suffered damages.

The Daily Press of Newport News reported Wednesday that fire investigators discovered a beer bottle containing a wick and a cigarette butt at the scene.

Del. Gear said the couple married Saturday, toasted by 200 guests.

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This house in Hampton's Phoebus section was gutted by a fire early Tuesday while its occupants, a newlywed couple, were honeymooning in Mexico. Photo by Buddy Norris

Best man , eh? Just damn.

[SteveMcKing]

I'd like to hear his side of the story. (Just for laughs...)

[PistolPaknMama]

They wouldn't reimburse him the money for his tux?

[jimboster]

Police: Why did you burn their house down?

Scumbag arsonist: Well, it had nothing to do with race! That's right, a big no on the race angle. I mean, like, you can forget about race. Yep, race never entered my mind.

[Eagles6]

"He would not say what the motive was, but said it was not racially driven. Del. Thomas Gear, R-Hampton, the bride's father, had feared the blaze could have been a hate crime."

How could he possibly know that it wasn't a hate crime? Oh, sorry, never mind.

[fso301]

Who's to say hubby wasn't in on it either. Faking a crime to generate publicity wouldn't be novel.

[JennysCool]

Forget generating publicity. Think insurance.

[ozzymandus]

"Not racially motivated"?? Because the criminal is black, and black people can't be racist?

[Bonaparte]

I wonder how much the house was insured for... and what the relationship was between the groom and his best man...

[proudpapa]

We have a winner!

[Thinkin' Gal]

Perhaps this was a creative plan for quickly unloading of all the tacky wedding gifts.

[JennysCool]

I'm Thinkin' that's a possibility!

So many ugly heirlooms, so little time ...

[Bonaparte]

The bride, the groom and Sledge, the best man for the job

[aculeus]

Fire Marshal Rick Rickett said

Paging John Johnson, Jack Jackson, Frank Franklin, etc.

[Samwise]

He would not say what the motive was, but said it was not racially driven. Del. Thomas Gear, R-Hampton, the bride's father, had feared the blaze could have been a hate crime.

Well, gee...as long as it wasn't a hate crime, it's no big deal. ***rolls eyes***

[SoVaDPJ]

Del. Gear said the couple married Saturday, toasted by 200 guests.

House later toasted by only one guest.

[Thinkin' Gal]

Fire Marshal Rick Rickett

Who is his assistant, DeeDee Del Sol?

[thathamiltonwoman]

Jealousy?

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About a year ago, the couple said, Anthony Williams, 26, and Overton, 27, had a falling-out after Williams told Overton's wife what he said she already knew: That Overton had been cheating on her.

Despite that, the men patched up their friendship, which began when they were 14 and living next door to each other. When Williams decided to marry 32-year-old Shannon Gear, the daughter of Hampton Del. Tom Gear, he asked Overton to stand up with him.

Couple find strength in home's ashes

[albee]

"About a year ago, the couple said, Anthony Williams, 26, and Overton, 27, had a falling-out after Williams told Overton's wife what he said she already knew: That Overton had been cheating on her."

SORE LOSER'S REVENGE!