Man poured gasoline in every room before house fire that killed 15 dogs, deputies say
By Pattrik Perez
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SEMINOLE COUNTY, Florida (WESH) — Two more dogs died overnight from injuries they suffered in a Geneva house fire that investigators say was intentionally set, bringing the total number of dogs killed to 15, according to Seminole County officials.
Terrance Banks, 40, is accused of setting his home on Snow Hill Road on fire Monday morning with multiple dogs inside, according to an arrest report from the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies say Banks admitted to starting the fire by “pouring gasoline on the floor in every room of the house. He then used a lighter to light a piece of paper (on) fire, which he then used to ignite the gasoline,” the arrest report states.
Investigators discovered six dead dogs in the hours after the fire Monday. On Tuesday, they found another seven deceased dogs inside the home. Banks told deputies there were 19 dogs inside the house.
“We were optimistic yesterday, if you will, that there wouldn’t be any more deceased animals. And unfortunately, his number was pretty accurate,” said Alan Harris, Seminole County’s emergency manager.
Seminole County Animal Services initially took in four dogs that survived the flames, but two of them died from their injuries overnight. The two surviving dogs are continuing to receive care at the shelter in Sanford, where video shows burns on their faces and bodies.
“We’ve dealt with injuries, and this is certainly a very, very bad (case) because of the amount of animals that we’re talking about, so it’s going to take some time of healing for our staff and for the two dogs in our custody,” Harris said.
Harris says one dog remains at large. Crews are actively trying to find and rescue the dog so it can receive care.
So far, Banks faces 11 counts of aggravated animal cruelty and one count of second-degree arson. He appeared in court Tuesday afternoon, where a judge ordered him to undergo a mental health evaluation at the jail and barred him from possessing animals.
He remains in the Seminole County jail, held without bond on the arson charge and with bond set at $5,000 for each animal cruelty count.
Banks’ attorney, Richard Hornsby, claims he was suffering a “serious mental health episode” and may have been hallucinating.
“For reasons I don’t understand, even though law enforcement was made explicitly aware of this information during their investigation, they inexplicably omitted any mention of it in the arrest report and if not brought to the court’s attention would have resulted in jail personnel and the court not taking appropriate mental health intervention. “As we work towards a resolution to the case, we will take steps to stabilize and get Mr. Banks the mental health treatment he needs.” The sheriff’s office says Facebook Live videos Banks recorded after the fire, but before his arrest, are part of its investigation. In one video, Banks says, among other things, “There need to be investigations within the church system. Definitely the Baptist church system using witchcraft and all that stuff.”
Banks’ arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 10.
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