William Robert Woods Guilty of Setting 2009 Lackawanna County Fire That Killed Two Boys

The first time Lackawanna County President Judge Thomas J. Munley said "guilty," Tyaisha Leary started crying.

Her quiet tears turned to sobs as Judge Munley rattled off the word 18 more times against her ex-boyfriend, William Robert Woods.

Guilty to taking the life of her children, Michael and Taevon Miles.

Guilty to setting the fire that killed them.

Each time the judge said the word they had waited so long to hear, Ms. Leary and her family shouted, "Yes!" in unison.

"It feels good to finally know that he'll never see the light of day again," said Ms. Leary, who wore to court Thursday a T-shirt emblazoned with pictures of her boys smiling.

"Just to see him and (know) what he'll have to live in for the rest of his life."

Following five days of testimony, Judge Munley returned a guilty verdict against Mr. Woods on all 19 counts, including first- and second-degree murder and arson.

He could be sentenced to life in state prison without parole. A sentencing date was not set Thursday.

Shackled and wearing a red prison jumpsuit, Mr. Woods sat stone-faced next to his public defenders as the judge announced the verdict before a packed courtroom at the Lackawanna County Courthouse.

"I'm happy he got what he deserved," said the boys' grandmother, Dorean Davis. "I know my grandsons are looking down (from heaven)."

Mr. Woods did not make a statement and mumbled a short inaudible phrase to a sheriff's deputy as he was escorted in handcuffs out of the courtroom on his way to state prison.

Investigators said Mr. Woods, 43, used lighter fluid the set a fire inside Ms. Leary's 166 S. Hyde Park Ave. home on July 21, 2009. The blaze destroyed the home and killed 10-year-old Michael and 9-year-old Taevon.

Their brother, 12-year-old Nijea, and Ms. Leary were both injured.

Last week, Ms. Leary, 35, broke down in tears when she took the stand and told how she could her Michael screaming for help as fire tore through their home.

Emergency responders heard her yelling, "My babies! My babies!" when they arrived.

Taevon was found dead inside the home. Michael died hours later after city firefighter John Hubert rescued him from the burning home.

Investigators, led by Scranton police Fire Inspector Martin Monahan, had their eyes on Mr. Woods from the beginning. Ms. Leary suspected he lit the fire because he told her he was going to "burn down" her home.

Their relationship disintegrated in the weeks leading up to the blaze. Mr. Woods slashed her car tires three times and charged at her with a knife.

She broke off the relationship and obtained a court-approved PFA against him.

Among the nearly 20 witnesses prosecutors called to testify, several said Mr. Woods said he wanted to set a fire in her home.

During closing arguments on Tuesday, District Attorney Andy Jarbola, who prosecuted the case along with assistant district attorneys Christina Byron and Mark Giannotti, said Mr. Woods displayed the lowest forms of human emotion after their split.

"If I can't live there, nobody will," Mr. Jarbola said, pointing at Mr. Woods. "If I can't have Tyaisha, nobody will. The only person who had the motive, the means, and the opportunity is sitting right here."

During the trial, prosecutors withdrew five of the 24 charges filed against Mr. Woods because they were redundant, Mr. Jarbola said. The death penalty was taken off the table earlier this year after Mr. Woods waived his right to a jury trial and agreed to be prosecuted before a county judge.

After the verdict, Mr. Jarbola said he was pleased by Judge Munley's decision and hoped it would ease the Ms. Leary's pain.

"Hopefully, this will give her some sense of closure," Mr. Jarbola said.

Ms. Leary said her sons will always live in her heart.

"I carry them with me every day," she said.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service