Investigators say one child was sexually assaulted before both were killed, and a fire was set inside a Pensacola mobile home.
PENSACOLA, FL. — Escambia County investigators arrested John Henry Walston Jr., 27, after a predawn mobile home fire where two children were found dead. Detectives say the killings happened before the blaze, and one child was sexually assaulted, according to the sheriff’s office.
Authorities said Walston is being held without bond on two counts of premeditated murder, one count of sexual assault of a child under 12, and one count of arson. The fire was reported early Friday in the Grand Oak Mobile Home Park on Flaxman Street in Pensacola. The children were identified by local media as 9-year-old Vayden Orum and 7-year-old Rayden Smith. A dog was also found dead inside the home, and three people were taken to hospitals with fire-related injuries. The case moved quickly from a fire investigation to a homicide and arson probe, and prosecutors are reviewing evidence while the medical examiner conducts autopsies.
Escambia County Fire Rescue said crews were dispatched at 12:56 a.m. to a fully involved single-wide trailer in the 5900 block of Flaxman Street. Firefighters knocked down the flames by 1:17 a.m. and found two children and a dog dead inside. Two adults and one child were treated at the scene and transported for injuries related to the fire. Sheriff Chip Simmons said in a weekend update that investigators determined the children were killed before the fire started. Simmons said evidence indicates Walston sexually assaulted one child, killed both children, then set the fire and escaped. “I do not know what else I can say about this terrible event,” Simmons said in the video statement.
The sheriff’s office said the fire was intentionally set inside the trailer, which investigators believe was connected to Walston. Detectives and state fire marshals processed the interior for burn patterns, accelerant traces, and other forensic evidence. At least one neighbor told deputies they awoke to sirens as engines arrived, but officials have not released detailed witness statements. The mother of the children was among those injured, according to local reports, and remained hospitalized. Officials have not disclosed her condition, the specific room where the fire started, or the precise weapon used in the killings. The timeline of events before the blaze, including any prior calls for service at the address, remains under review.
The incident unfolded in a tightly packed mobile home park where trailers sit close together, a setting that can allow flames to spread quickly and complicate entry for rescuers. Fire officials emphasized the rapid response times and said crews prioritized interior access once conditions allowed. County records show ECFR units arrived to heavy flames and smoke and worked to cool the structure before making entry to search for the children. The discovery of both victims inside, alongside the dog, shifted the operation from rescue to recovery while law enforcement secured the scene. In similar fatal fires, investigators typically combine arson analysis with homicide procedures, including lab testing for accelerants and full autopsies to determine cause and manner of death.
Walston’s charges include two counts of premeditated murder and sexual assault of a child under 12, crimes that carry the most severe penalties in Florida. He is being held without bond at the county jail. Court records indicate his first appearance in the case is set for Nov. 26. Prosecutors are expected to review preliminary autopsy results, fire-scene examinations, and digital evidence before deciding on any additional counts. The medical examiner’s office will determine the children’s causes of death, and state fire investigators will finalize their origin and cause report. Detectives have not released a potential motive, and they said additional interviews and forensic testing are underway.
Outside the park, burned siding and charred framing were visible around the trailer’s front entry, and the smell of smoke lingered hours after crews left the scene. Neighbors described a chaotic overnight response with lights and sirens cutting through the dark. In his recorded message, Simmons called the case heartbreaking and expressed condolences to the families. County officials said the fire displaced others in nearby units for part of the morning as utilities were checked and the structure was secured. Community members left stuffed animals near the park’s entrance while deputies maintained a rotating patrol.
As of Tuesday, investigators say the homicide and arson probe remains active, with additional lab work pending. Walston is jailed without bond and awaits his first court date on Nov. 26. Officials said further updates would be released after autopsy findings and the fire origin report are complete.
Author note: Last updated November 11, 2025.