SML house that burned owned by man charged with wife’s murder

Updated Saturday, 6:32 p.m. by Candice Nelson

A fire on Smith Mountain Lake destroyed a home and is raising many questions. The home belonged to Wesley Earnest, the former school teacher charged with first degree murder in the 2007 death of his wife, Jocelyn. 

The fire broke out around 6:45 p.m. on Friday. At least four different fire companies responded, but the out-of-control flames leveled the home.
   
“Oh it was an inferno. The windows were blowing out,” said neighbor, Dave Wilson.

On Saturday, Bedford County deputies guarded what was left of the home as investigators took pictures and tried to dig through the ashes to find a cause.

“This is just a completely open investigation right now until we get in. Obviously there wasn’t any thunderstorm last night so we can definitely say that wasn’t the cause,” said John Jennings, Bedford County Fire Marshal.

Wilson said the last time he saw Earnest was on Wednesday.

“He’s kinda sporadic. We call him a phantom sometimes. He’ll be in, be out, we’ll see the truck and not see him,” he said.

Greg Eigenfeld is another neighbor. He says someone with the sheriff’s office stopped by their home last week to talk about Earnest.

“Asking if we had seen him recently, and my wife said yes. His little red pickup truck had been seen in the past week recently going in and out,” he said.

We talked to Bedford County Sheriff’s Office late Saturday afternoon and asked about those visits any deputies may have made to neighbors. A captain said he wasn’t aware of any but said it was possible; however, that doesn’t necessarily mean it was for anything criminal.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Randy Krantz said Earnest is not required to stay in the county but is not allowed to leave Virginia under the terms of his bond. Calls made to Earnest’s attorney, Joey Sanzone, have not been returned yet.

Earnest is currently out of jail on bond awaiting his trial in June. His arrest came after police found his wife dead inside her Forest home. Prosecutors say the scene was set up to look like suicide.

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Updated Saturday 4:14p.m.
Bedford County Commonwealth’s Attorney Randy Krantz tells WSLS, Wesley Earnest was not required to stay in the county but could not leave Virginia under the terms of his bond.

We’ve tried to reach Eanest’s attorney, Joey Sanzone, to find out if Sanzone has been in touch with his client since the fire.  Our call to Sanzone has not yet been returned.

Bedford County tax records show the Clearwater Drive property is valued at $1,225,600.  Earnest purchased the land with his late wife Jocelyn.  The home is a total loss. 
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Updated 10:27p.m.
Captain Mike Miller with the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed for WSLS that the home is owned by Wesley Earnest.

Earnest is the former school principal charged with first degree murder in the December 2007 murder of his wife Jocelyn Earnest.

Mrs. Earnest was found dead inside her Forest home.  Prosecutors say the scene was staged to look like a suicide.

Mr. Earnest is currently out of jail on bond.  His trial is set for June.

Captain Miller tells us the fire is still under investigation.

Updated 10:04p.m.
A rescue worker tells us there are no fire hydrants in the neighborhood and the fire boats had a difficult time pumping water uphill from the lake.
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Firefighters work to put out intense flames at a home on Smith Mountain Lake.

The fire broke out around 6:45 Friday evening on Clearwater Drive.  That’s in Moneta on the Bedford County side.

Four different fire companies responded, including fire boats.

Firefighters tell us no one was hurt.

We have a crew on the scene and will have more on WSLS at 11.