Manslaughter suspect's home goes up in flames

CALDER — The home of a Calder man burned to the ground Monday morning as he sat in the Shoshone County Jail for criminal charges including vehicular manslaughter.

Fire personnel with St. Joe Valley Fire District #4 and St. Maries Fire Department responded to the residence of Richard Elbert Rogers Jr., located at 12 Main St. in Calder, around 8 a.m. after a neighbor reported seeing flames.

Shoshone County Sheriff's Office Capt. Jeff Lee said that while the flames were contained to the original structure and no injuries were reported, the home itself was declared a total loss.

Based on the circumstances surrounding the home's owner and the front porch ignition point, the Idaho State Fire Marshal's office has been asked to investigate the strong possibility of arson.

Rogers Jr. was arrested by Idaho State Police in the early morning hours of Aug. 27 after he allegedly ran over and killed a 35-year-old Calder woman in town and fled the scene while under the influence of alcohol.

Witnesses to the incident said that the suspect got into a verbal altercation Thursday night with multiple parties regarding the usage of motorized vehicles by juveniles in a certain area. Fueled by heightened emotions and alcohol, Rogers Jr. was said to have brandished a firearm — this is when police were called the first time. As the St. Joe region SCSO deputy was en route to Calder, a second call came in to dispatch reporting the hit & run.

Rogers Jr. fled town and traveled west toward St. Maries on St. Joe River Road until he parked in a pullout around milepost 21. It was there that Benewah County Sheriff's deputies, who were responding to the call as well, found him unconscious in his truck.

Due in part to the complexity of the investigation, the entire case was handed over to ISP for follow-up.

Rogers Jr. was initially charged last Friday with driving under the influence, but now is facing charges of vehicular manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in an injury or death.

Shoshone County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Ben Allen said that many of the case's specifics are limited due to the active investigation, but he can confirm that two search warrants were carried out.

"Our office, through collaboration with the ISP detectives unit and SCSO have successfully procured two different warrants — one on the night of the incident and one on the day immediately after."

Allen added that following a review of the initial report, the state made the decision to file charges for vehicle manslaughter.

Under Idaho code, manslaughter is defined as the unlawful killing of a human being … without malice. In this particular case, when someone is operating a motor vehicle while exercising gross negligence and/or under the influence, that operation is the significant cause that contributes to a death. The maximum penalty for a vehicular manslaughter conviction is a $15,000 fine or 15 years in prison.

Allen said that due to the severity of the situation, the state pushed for a hefty bail amount.

"Although the defendant was a Shoshone County resident, had local ties to the community and had very limited criminal history, the state argued for a substantial bond and the court granted that request and set bond at $100,000."

Rogers Jr. could face upgraded/ additional charges following a completion of the investigation by ISP detectives.

As for the suspected arson case, Lee said that SCSO will be awaiting the results of the Fire Marshal's investigation.

"It's definitely suspicious just based on the circumstance of what has been going on in Calder," he said.