Caleb Lynch

Caleb Lynch

Two Kids Dead, Mother's Fiance Arrested in Overnight Fire

Reported by: Web Producer

Saturday, April 10 2010

UPDATE: Deputies were dispatched to 10400 Fisher Rd. just before 4 AM to assist the German Township Fire Department with a fully engulfed house fire.

Neighbors told deputies Jeffrey Weisheit, his fiance Lisa Lynch and her two young children, Alyssa and Caleb, live there. Deputies found Lynch at work. She told them Weisheit and the kids should be at home. She described his vehicle, which was not at the house. Deputies searched for, but could not find, Weisheit.

A deputy with the Boone County, Kentucky Sheriff's Office saw Weisheit in Kentucky. The deputy went after him, and Weisheit sped away. Several agencies were finally able to stop him using stop sticks. Weisheit got out of the vehicle with a knife out. Officers used a taser to subdue him.

Weisheit was taken to the hospital were he was treated for injuries he got when he fell to the ground after being stunned. He is now in a hospital in Ohio.

Vanderburgh County deputies were dispatched to Boone County to talk to Weisheit. They got a warrant to search his vehicle. Firefighters, deputies, representatives of the state fire marshal's office, EFD's arson unit and Ohio Valley Search and Rescue spent the day searching of the burned home. They found the bodies of the two badly burned children.

The bodies have been taken to the Vanderburgh County Coroner's Office for autopsy and identification. The initial evidence shows that the fire was intentionally set. And, during an interview with deputies, Weisheit indicated he was the one who set it. He also indicated he knew the kids were there at the time.

Weisheit is being charged with two counts of murder and one count of arson. He'll face additional charges in Kentucky for trying to run from law enforcement.

The sheriff's office is working to have him extradited back to Vanderburgh County as quickly as possible.

PREVIOUS: Dispatchers say a fire broke out before dawn at 10400 Fischer Rd. in northern Vanderburgh County. The entire house was destroyed. Officials say two people living there have not been found. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Sheriff Eric Williams says the burned home is being treated as a crime scene. We'll have the latest information on FOX 7 News at 5:30.


Obituary:

Alyssa and Caleb Lynch

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Alyssa Michelle Lynch, 8, and Caleb Alexander Lynch, 5, were delivered into the arms of the Lord on April 10, 2010.

Alyssa was born on March 14, 2002, in Evansville. She attended second grade at Cynthia Heights School. Alyssa was always a "little princess" to her mom and dad. She was a smart, beautiful, caring and loving girl. She could bring sunshine to any rainy day with just a smile. Alyssa loved playing guitar, drawing, coloring and making homemade cards for everyone. She would often draw pictures that included every member of her family together. Alyssa enjoyed writing and reading, especially her beloved "Junie B. Jones" books. She would stay up late at night by her lamp just so she could read her books or write in her journal. Alyssa loved school and all her friends there, including her best friend, Bailey Brush. She adored her little brother, Caleb, since the moment he was born.

Caleb was born on Feb. 2, 2005. in Evansville. He attended Salem Pre-school. He was a sweet, tender-hearted boy who loved giving hugs. Caleb brought out the best in other people. He was so sweet, loving and handsome. Caleb liked helping Mommy cook, and although he had a sweet tooth, he always ate his veggies. He was her "love bug." Both Caleb and Alyssa enjoyed playing on the beach and in the ocean while visiting Daddy. Full of energy and life, Caleb could always make others smile and laugh. He was all boy — loving trains, trucks, planes, dirt, bugs and the outdoors. He loved riding on the 4-wheeler with his neighbor and buddy, "Big Jon." Caleb loved his sister, Alyssa, very much. Alyssa and Caleb were truly two angels on earth.

Survivors include their parents, Lisa Lynch of Evansville and Steve Lynch of Florida; grandparents, Rick and Marcia Mullen, Joseph Lynch Jr. and Leona J. Taylor; uncles, Jeffrey Mullen and Joseph Lynch III; aunt, Melinda (Chris) Smith; several cousins; and their cat, Figaro, and their chihuahua, Jose.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 pm Thursday, April 15, at Sunset Funeral Home. Private funeral services will be held at a later date, with burial following in Sunset Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made on behalf of Alyssa and Caleb Lynch at any Old National Bank branch, where funds will be donated to Cynthia Heights School, Salem Pre-School and Holly's House.

Published in Courier Press on April 14, 2010

Also see post for dear sister Alyssa Lynch.

Alyssa Lynch

Alyssa Lynch

Man accused of killing children is back in Vanderburgh County

• By Mark Wilson
• Posted April 12, 2010 at 9:13 a.m.

The Evansville man suspected of killing two children in a fire early Saturday could face the death penalty if convicted.

Jeffrey Weisheit will appear in a Vanderburgh County court this morning to face formal charges in the fire that killed 8-year-old Alyssa Lynch and her brother, Caleb, 5. A probable cause affidavit indicates at least one the children may have been bound.

“Obviously this is a potential death penalty case,” said Vanderburgh County Prosecutor Stan Levco. “It’s something I’ll be considering in the next two to three weeks.”

Weisheit appeared in court in Hamilton County, Ohio, on Monday where he waived extradition. He was booked into the Vanderburgh County Jail at 7 p.m. Monday and placed on suicide watch. When he is arraigned this morning, he is expected to face murder and arson charges.

On Monday, neighbors sifted through the scant, charred remains of the three-bedroom house on 10040 Fischer Road for anything they could salvage for the children’s mother, Lisa Lynch, who was at work when the fire began.

Next-door neighbor Kevin Glaser assembled a memorial to the children at the corner of the property — still surrounded by yellow police tape — that included flowers, stuffed animals, rock markers with their names, candles, crosses and plastic children’s sunglasses.

Friends said Lynch and her children moved in with Weisheit about a year ago and they appeared happy. Neighbor Jon Boring said they bought a four-wheeler a week ago to ride with the children.

“They brought it over and showed it to us,” he said.

Boring said he often saw the children playing outside.

“They were great kids, full of life, inquisitive,” he said. “They were always outside on the swing set or wanting to ride on the riding lawn mower.”

Boring said he has known Weisheit for nearly 20 years and had no indication that anything was wrong.

“I saw him about 5:30 p.m. that night (Friday) and he said he was going to watch a movie with the kids,” he said.

Alyssa Lynch was a second-grader at Cynthia Heights Elementary School in northern Vanderburgh County. The Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. crisis team of local counselors was at the school Monday, meeting with pupils who want to talk about their emotions.

About 12 children have thus far met with members of the counseling team, and “teachers have done a great job working with students in the classroom,” said Marsha Jackson, EVSC director of communications.

Several children at Cynthia Heights “understand (Alyssa) is not there, but they don’t understand the permanence,” Jackson said.

Weisheit, son of retired Evansville Police Department Lt. Bert Weisheit and a member of Laborers Local 561, bought the house in June 2008. Until March 25, he worked as a contract laborer for Industrial Contractors Inc. at a job at SABIC Innovative Plastics in Mount Vernon, Ind., said Denny Quinn, president of Industrial Contractors.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Weisheit was supposed to watch the children while Lynch was at work from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m., and then take them to Lynch’s parents house so he could go to work.

When deputies arriving at the fire scene realized that had not occurred and that Weisheit and his car were missing, they were able to locate it in Boone County, Ky., after Lynch called its OnStar emergency assistance service.

Weisheit was stopped by police in Kenton County, Ky., on Saturday after a chase.

The children’s bodies were found inside the house. An autopsy has indicated they died of smoke inhalation, according to the Vanderburgh County Coroner’s office, indicating that they were alive when the fire was set.

One of the children was found in a bedroom with two burned flares found near or under the body, according to the affidavit, and duct tape was also found that “may be evidence that the person had been bound in some fashion with the duct tape.”

Detective Randy Chapman of the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office interviewed Weisheit at University Hospital in Cincinnati. According to the affidavit, Weisheit said he had planned to leave the house a week before and that he did not want to take the “kids” with him.

Weisheit consistently stated he did not remember what happened to the children, according to the affidavit, but when asked if he set the fire, “Weisheit indicated that he had in fact set the fire.”

Weisheit also indicated he had not been drinking or taking drugs, according to the affidavit. Weisheit then ended the interview by indicating he wanted a lawyer.

Chapman worked with northern Kentucky police to get a search warrant for Weisheit’s car and a suitcase visible inside it.

Duct tape was also observed in the vehicle, according to the affidavit.

Weisheit was arrested after he confronted authorities and had to be stopped with a stun gun. He was taken to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Edgewood, Ky., before being transferred to University Hospital.

He still faces two counts of attempted murder on a police officer in Erlanger, Ky.

Kenton County Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Sanders said if Weisheit receives anything less than the death penalty from the Indiana case, he will be brought back to Kentucky to face attempted murder charges.

Staff writers Lydia X. McCoy and John Martin and the Kentucky Enquirer contributed to this report.

Also see the obituary for both children and the post for dear brother Caleb Lynch here.