Jamie Hood (Courtesy Athens-Clarke County Sheriff's Office)
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) -- Authorities say a fire that destroyed the childhood home of a man accused of killing an Athens police officer appears to have been an accident.
Athens-Clarke County fire Battalion Chief Gary Jeffers says an electrical short or an unattended kerosene heater may have caused the blaze.
The fire was reported shortly before noon on Tuesday at the family home of Jamie Hood in Clarke County. Hood is charged with fatally shooting Officer Elmer "Buddy" Christian and wounding Officer Tony Howard in March 2011.
Hood's parents, Azalee and Robert Hood Sr., left the house on Rannick Road about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday to make final arrangements for one of Hood's uncles, who died last weekend.
If convicted of the shootings, Hood faces the death penalty.
Associated Press