A man faces arson and attempted murder charges for allegedly starting a fire at a home in Thompson in 2024 over a suspected dispute with the son of one of the homeowners.
Walter Lawson, 42, of Putnam was charged Friday during an appearance in Danielson Superior Court, according to Connecticut State Police. He was charged with two counts of attempted murder and a single count of first-degree arson of an occupied building and conspiracy to commit first-degree arson.
Lawson was already being held on bonds in connection with charges tied to two stabbings, including one that left a man dead, and accusations that he sold cocaine to a juvenile, according to court records.
The attempted murder charges stem from a fire at a home in the North Grosvenordale section of Thompson just before 3 a.m. on May 13, 2024, where two people were residing, the warrant affidavit said. The residents, ages 63 and 58, were able to make it out of the home safely.
Officials investigating the fire found burn pattern evidence and fire damage that suggested the fire was set on three different walls of the home, the warrant affidavit said. They also allegedly found a liquid that was found to be gasoline after it was tested at the state Division of Scientific Services Laboratory in Meriden, according to the warrant affidavit.
During a canvass of the scene, investigators also allegedly found a gas can in the area and a black iPhone, the warrant affidavit said. Both items were allegedly found to have DNA consistent with Lawson’s on them, state police wrote.
According to the warrant affidavit, the residents of the home, a married couple, told police they suspected that the fire may have been connected to the wife’s son, who reportedly struggles with substance abuse. The woman told police her son would often steal from her and others, including drug dealers, to support his habit, the warrant affidavit said.
The mother described for police a specific incident in which her son alleged that a drug dealer known as “L” put a gun in his mouth because he owed him money, according to the warrant affidavit. At one point, the drug dealer allegedly showed up at her home looking for her son, she told police.
The mother told investigators she did not believe that “L” would harm her, but she noted that her son had issues with “numerous people and that anyone of them could have started the fire,” state police wrote.
State police believe the man described as “L” is Lawson, investigators wrote in the warrant.
During the investigation, detectives were assisted by the state police Intelligence Operations Unit in reviewing Department of Correction phone calls involving Lawson or any of known associates. State police alleged that they discovered one call in which Lawson could allegedly be heard saying he was going to kill someone’s mother, the warrant affidavit said.
“Ima kill that (redacted) mother tonight,” he allegedly said, according to the warrant affidavit. “Ima burn that (redacted) mother house down. Ima burn that (redacted) to the ground (redacted) and ima make sure that (redacted) can’t get out.”
Investigators also learned about a phone call that was made the day the fire broke out involving Lawson and someone who was locked up, the warrant affidavit said. During the call, the two allegedly discussed Lawson losing his cell phone in Thompson, according to the warrant affidavit.
In April 2025, state police went to a correction facility to speak with a woman about the investigation. Her connection to the investigation was not made clear in the warrant affidavit.
According to the warrant affidavit, the woman told police she knew they were there to speak about the arson and allegedly admitted that she was there with another person when she set the fire. She allegedly said she poured gasoline around the yard, near the home and around the shed, state police wrote.
Last month, the woman’s attorney contacted investigators and said she wanted to speak with authorities about the arson. The woman now claimed that Lawson was the one who actually started the fire and that she had lied before because she was afraid of him, the warrant affidavit said.
In June 2024, Lawson was extradited from Bangor, Maine to Connecticut to face charges of first-degree manslaughter, conspiracy to commit first-degree assault, possession of narcotics with intent to sell to someone under 18 and possession of narcotics.
The manslaughter charge stems from the fatal stabbing of 51-year-old William Logan of New Haven on Sept. 26, 2023. State police investigators believe Logan was stabbed during an altercation at a home in Thompson.
Lawson has been charged with conspiracy to commit assault for allegedly directing a man to stab a woman multiple times at a boat launch on Fabyan Road in Thompson in May 2024, the arrest warrant affidavit in that case said. The woman suffered multiple stab wounds to her leg and survived.
The woman told police Lawson had accused her of stealing drugs from him about a week before the stabbing, according to the warrant affidavit.
Lawson was also implicated in an alleged drug deal in September 2023 when a juvenile who was seen leaving a residence in Killingly crashed a vehicle, the warrant affidavit said. The juvenile later told investigators he had gone to the residence, where Lawson was reportedly living at the time, to buy allegedly cocaine from Lawson, state police wrote.
Lawson remains held on bonds totaling more than $2 million, court records show. He is scheduled to appear in Danielson Superior Court on March 27.