Det. Testifies Accused Firebug Confessed

By RICHARD ANDERSON & RENEE SAFF

A New York City detective testified in Brooklyn Supreme Court on Thursday that a 24-year old Newark man confessed to starting a raging fire that nearly killed two children inside of a Brooklyn housing project.

The defendant Thaddeus Boone admitted to officers during interrogation that he set fire to his girlfriend’s fifth-floor apartment at about 2:15 a.m. in a Wyckoff Gardens house at 130 Third Ave., according to court testimony. The fire left his girlfriend’s 8-year-old sister and a 5-month-old boy in critical condition. Two of his girlfriend’s siblings and her 63-year-old grandmother were left with minor injuries.

According to court testimony, Boone confessed to the crime after he was lured into a trap set by his girlfriend, Aquasya Meadows, who aided officers with her boyfriend’s apprehension. Meadows arranged for her boyfriend to meet her in person by sending him an Instagram message. Detective Thomas Markhart spotted Boone and ordered him not to move, but Boone took off towards the F train’s Ninth Street subway station, where he was tackled by Detective Jason Ostek.

“[I said,] ‘let me see your hands,’ and I grabbed him directly after,” Markhart said.

After being apprehended by Markhart and Ostek, Boone was brought in to the 78th Precinct, where he was read his Miranda Rights and subject to interrogation.

During the interrogation, Boone said that he was unaware of the fire, but after hearing that none of the children died in the blaze, Boone confessed to setting his girlfriend’s jacket on fire in the bedroom where one of Meadow’s siblings sleeps.

There is a recording of Boone’s confession, but it has not yet been played in court.

On the night of the fire, Boone confronted his then 18-year-old girlfriend, accusing her of cheating on him. He left after the argument, but returned shortly afterwards and went into one of the bedrooms, where he used a lighter to set fire to clothing and curtains, according to the Brooklyn DA’s office.

Video surveillance allegedly shows Boone leaving and entering the Wyckoff Garden house twice around the time of the fire.

Boone is charged with five counts of attempted murder, four counts of endangering the welfare of a child, arson and burglary. The trial is expected to continue through December.

If convicted, Boone faces 25 years to life in prison.