Son Set Harford County House Fire With Dad Inside Because Of 'Unbelief': Court Docs

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — Charging documents reveal an Aberdeen man set his house on fire in order to "kill my father because he doesn't believe in Jesus."

Charging documents claim 27-year-old Patrick Joseph Brinsfield said, "I started it bit by bit." Police say Brinsfield also screamed, "Abra Kadabra," several times while talking with officers, WBAL reported.

On March 31 around 12:40 a.m., the Aberdeen Fire Department and neighboring fire departments responded to a call for help at 13 North Post Road. The Aberdeen Police Department arrived first and found Brinsfield, who admitted to setting the house on fire, the state fire marshal's office said in a news release.

A witness on his way home saw the fire, knocked on the door, then had to kick it in when no one responded. It wasn't until the witness burst into the house that Brinsfield's father learned there was a fire on the second floor of the home; he was asleep in the basement, according to the fire marshal's office.

The Aberdeen Police Department took Patrick Brinsfield to Harford Memorial Hospital for a precautionary evaluation. Investigators, with the assistance of K9 Kachina, determined the fire was intentionally set, Patch reported. Patrick Brinsfield was arrested after being discharged from the hospital and taken to the Harford County Detention Center. He is being held without bond.

The younger Brinsfield has been charged with two counts of attempted murder, assault and arson.

Fire investigators said there was a strong smell of gasoline in the home and brought in an accelerate detection K-9 team, which found several spots with possible ignitable liquid, documents noted. The fire caused an estimated $100,000 in damages.