LOWVILLE, New York (WWNY) – A witness in Shawn Exford’s murder-arson trial said Exford told him he was thinking of using a candle to set fire to a Lowville apartment house a few weeks before it burned down.
He said the conversation took place when he was mowing the lawn.
That was testimony from Larry Mutchlar, one of three witness who took the stand Friday morning in Exford’s Lewis County Court trial.
Exford is on trial for arson and murder in connection with a fire at 7525 South State Street in November 2019 that killed two people and injured another.
The fire killed 58-year-old Catherine Crego and 42-year-old Saratina Kilbourne.
Brian Mushtare was injured. He testified Thursday.
He faces a total of 13 charges.
Mutchlar also testified that when he went to the fire scene, he saw Exford outside acting strangely. He said Exford had “black stuff” on his forehead, pants, and hands.
During cross-examination, Defense Attorney John Hallett questioned the fact that Mutchlar was mowing his lawn in the middle of November, and pointed out his past criminal charges.
Also testifying Friday morning was paramedic Kristen Johnson with Lewis County Search and Rescue. She said she saw Exford walking toward the home the night of the fire.
She said he told her he was on his way back after leaving to grab movies from his apartment. She said he wasn’t displaying much emotion and wasn’t paying attention to her.
The next to testify Friday was Catherine Crego’s granddaughter Tristain McGrath. McGrath got to her grandmother’s home around 4 p.m. that day. She said she saw Crego, victim Saratina Kilbourne, Mushtare, and Exford at the house. They spent the night drinking.
She said she and Exford left the apartment multiple times. Once to the gas station to buy more alcohol, and another time to get a slice of pizza.
McGrath testified she left to go to a family friend’s house around 11 o’clock that night, despite Exford pleading with her not to. She waited an hour, but the friend never came. She said when she went back to her grandmother’s house, she was in shock. The home was in flames.
She testified Exford later came back to the scene with movies in his hand. She said he hugged her and began to cry.
During cross-examination, McGrath revealed there have been past fights between Exford and Crego. She said he hit her grandmother in the head with a burning candle months prior. For the most part, McGrath said, the two got along well. She said her grandmother was very friendly and welcoming to Exford, and as a token of appreciation, he would buy Crego beer.
Baker’s Bar and Grill employee and patron Joseph Griffin was next to take the stand. He said he was drinking and playing darts at the bar the night of the fire, when he heard sirens and went to the scene. He would go back and forth from the scene to the bar multiple times that night.
At one point, he ran into Exford, who asked him if the bar was still open. Griffin told him yes, and Exford went to the bar. Griffin said, and video surveillance showed, Exford did drink at the bar. He said Exford was also asking patrons if they could smell burning flesh on him.
Hallett, during cross-examination asked how much Shawn drank at the bar. Griffin responded saying, “a little.”
The last witness of the day was Baker’s Bar and Grill bartender Laurie Buckingham. She said she went to the scene of the fire while she was working, because she had friends who knew and would go to Crego’s apartment often. When she got there, she saw Shawn on the lawn next door to the scene. She asked him if her friends were in there, and he said no. He told her he had been inside the apartment that night.
Later, Exford went to the bar, and Buckingham served him a soda and shots, although Exford was not allowed in the bar because of past incidents. During cross examination, Buckingham said she served him because of the nights’ events, and he did not appear intoxicated.
During his time at the bar, Buckingham said she and Exford discussed the fire. She said he seemed anxious. Buckingham testified he continued to drink and play scratch offs, which she had never seen Exford do before.
She said he asked her if she could smell burning flesh on him. She said the comment “pissed her off.”
Court was adjourned at around 10:45 a.m. Testimony will continue Monday at 9 a.m.
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