Two Virginia-area men with a combined 45 prior criminal cases filed against them were charged Thursday in St. Louis County District Court with attempted first-
degree murder for their alleged roles in an incident in which a 21-year-old man was doused with gasoline and set on fire.
Corey Blake TwoCrow, 37, and Vince Alan Hanson, 28, are accused of being involved in the burning of Forrest Dean King, who was found lying naked in the 200 block of First Street North about 5:20 a.m. Monday with his nearby clothing still smoldering.
King, who had burns on more than 50 percent of his body, remained listed in critical condition Thursday afternoon in the Dwan Burn Center at SMDC Medical Center.
The criminal complaint alleges Hanson told Virginia police that TwoCrow and King fought after King told TwoCrow that he was going to have sex with TwoCrow's son, and that TwoCrow had an issue with King's family because he had recently been stabbed by a relative of Forrest King.
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TwoCrow and Hanson also are charged with attempted second-
degree murder and first-degree assault. Hanson faces an additional charge of aiding an offender.
Judge James Florey set bail at $500,000 for each defendant. They are being held in the St. Louis County Jail pending their initial court appearances on Monday.
According to the criminal complaint filed by St. Louis County prosecutor Gordon Coldagelli:
Hanson told police that he saw TwoCrow and King get into a fight in a Virginia bar and continue the fight at another location later. Hanson said he wasn't part of the fight.
Police interviewed TwoCrow's girlfriend, who said she had received a text message from TwoCrow stating: "I guess im gonna get killed cuz this dork threatened my life @ kids so I hurt him bad, n probably gona do life."
A witness told Virginia police Detective Dennis Benz that he saw TwoCrow put King in a choke hold in front of a Virginia bar. He said TwoCrow choked King until the victim turned white.
Police found and arrested TwoCrow. They observed burns on the inside and back of TwoCrow's left hand and also on his wrists and a lower arm. He refused to talk to police.
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On Wednesday, a woman called Virginia police and said that Hanson had been at her residence with a gas can. Police interviewed another man who told them Hanson had a gas can and smelled of gas when he saw him about 5:15 a.m. Monday. The witness said Hanson admitted he and TwoCrow had started King on fire. Hanson said he threw a Zippo at the victim, the witness said.
Virginia police located the gas can in the woods and confronted Hanson with it. Hanson changed his story and said he saw TwoCrow pour gas on King but when he left the scene King wasn't yet set on fire. He said TwoCrow was yelling and kicking King, telling him to get up.
Authorities say TwoCrow and Hanson don't have permanent addresses. Hanson has 28 prior criminal cases filed against him, including assault, theft and receiving stolen property. TwoCrow has 17 prior criminal files, including assault, disorderly conduct and giving police false information.
