Arrest made in connection to deadly Sampson County mobile home fire

NEWTON GROVE, N.C. (WTVD) -- A man is behind bars accused of assault connected to a fatal mobile home fire in Sampson County.

Perry Rendel Folger, 46, was arrested on charges of burglary and felony assault. Sampson County Sheriff's Office said more charges are expected but did not specify what type of charges.

For deputies it all began around 1 a.m. when they received a call about a mobile home on fire on Alex Benton Road.

When they arrived, they found the woman who made the call in the front yard of the burning home.

That woman had visible injuries from a physical assault. She told deputies there was a man trapped inside the home.

The man turned out to be 64-year-old Nathaniel Taylor. Taylor was trapped inside and could not be saved before he died.

Investigators said the woman's injuries came from trying to defend Taylor from Folger who was reportedly attacking Taylor inside the home.

How the home caught fire remains unclear. Investigators said they are investigating it as an arson.

Sampson County Sheriff's Office, Sampson County Fire Marshals Office, the ATF and the SBI are all investigating the case.