Deputies: Husband Leigh Knowels Set Wife's Clothes on Fire, Burned Down House by Mistake

BUTTS COUNTY, Ga. - A Butts County man is facing arson charges after police say a violent attack on his wife took a tu he wasn’t expecting. Investigators say Leigh Allen Knowels meant to set his wife’s clothes on fire, but the blaze raged out of control and bued down the couple’s home.

Investigators say Knowels, 48, was trying to teach his wife a lesson, but instead he destroyed their house. A firefighter was injured trying to save the old home.

Knowels is charged with arson, aggravated assault, battery and aggravated stalking. Investigators say he poured gasoline on his wife’s clothes in their bedroom closet, and set them on fire.

Col. Larry Mooney, Butts County Chief Deputy, said Knowels’ wife was fond of her clothes, and this was his way of getting back at her. Investigators say Knowels told them that the fire quickly grew into a fast-moving infeo, and despite his attempts to douse the flames with water from the kitchen sink, they whole house became engulfed.

According to investigators, Knowels’ wife had left the home and come back with her son and his girlfriend. They say Knowels set the closet on fire, and then threatened the three with a switchblade. The three others had to jump through a window to escape while Knowels tried to fight the fire.

Authorities say Knowels ran into the woods nearby and hid after the fire took over the home. A tracking dog and search crew flushed him out late Saturday night.

Investigators say Knowels has a history of domestic violence, and in the couple’s short marriage, police had already been called to the house once.