THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 24, 1994 TAG: 9409240207
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: HOPEWELL LENGTH: Short : 40 lines
An Oct. 14 trial date was set Friday for two brothers, ages 11 and 9, accused of pouring gasoline on a 3-year-old boy and setting him on fire.
Tony Dillhoff remained in stable condition Friday at Medical College of Virginia Hospitals with second- and third-degree burns on his back, arms and legs.
``I don't know what happened,'' Tony's mother, Kimberly Dillhoff, said Thursday night. ``I just know this little guy's paying for it.''
Kimberly Dillhoff was shopping for school supplies and Tony's aunt was baby-sitting Monday evening when the fire occurred in an alley behind the Dillhoff home.
Kenny Dillhoff, 13, heard shouting, turned and saw flames where his little brother had been moments before.
``He was screaming, and he was saying, `Fire!' '' Kenny said. ``And everybody was screaming, `Fire!' ''
Kenny jumped on his brother, rolling him over several times in the gravel to put out the fire.
Petitions charging the 11- and 9-year-olds with aggravated malicious wounding and aggravated malicious bodily injury by caustic or explosive substance were issued Wednesday night.
The trial date was set when the brothers appeared in Hopewell Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.
The 11-year-old has been placed in the Crater Detention Center. The younger boy was released in the custody of his parents.
Their names are being withheld because they are minors.
KEYWORDS: FIRE JUVENILE ASSAULT by CNB