FORT CAMPBELL — A federal grand jury has charged a Fort Campbell soldier’s wife with setting a house fire on base that killed her two children.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Kentucky announced Tuesday that Billi Jo Smallwood has been charged with maliciously setting fire to her home in March 2007. She is also charged with attempting to destroy a residential facility for members of the U.S. Army that caused the death of two minors.
Smallwood’s two children, 9-year-old Sam Fagan and 2-year-old Rebekah Smallwood, were killed in the fire and her husband, Army Spc. Wayne Smallwood, was injured.
Smallwood, who is 35, could face death or life imprisonment if convicted. A spokeswoman for the attorney’s office said Smallwood does not have an attorney and she is currently in federal custody.
I don’t think that she deserves the death penalty. It’s clear that this couple had some problems, I would like to know why the never received any help. As a military spouse, a mother of three, I know what she was going through and it doesn’t help that her husband was an abusive drunk. I would like to know what type of family out reach program they have on that base that they are stationed. They also needed some financial counseling. Why was the husband out at bars when he should have been at home helping his wife with the kids, especially if they only had $17 to their name? I’m not trying to be biased here, but it’s evident that this woman needs some mental help. Taking care of three children and being away from your family is a very difficult, if you don’t have any support from your husband. Military spouses do not get the help that they always need. Especially, since the military teaches its members “SERVICE BEFORE SELF!” It’s like your family is invisible. I’m not saying what she did was right, but you cannot fault some one that clearly was not in the right state of mind. Yes, she should be punished but not put to death. Someone else is at fault here for not getting this couple the help that they needed, morally, financially, and mentally. The government needs to spend a little more money on taking care of its member’s families instead of wasting it on other countries!