Athens man facing homicide, drug charges arrested in Loyal last Wednesday

An Athens man is being held on $40,000 cash bond facing homicide and drug charges stemming from a Jan. 11 structure fire in the town of Maplehurst, Taylor County.

On Jan. 11, 2023, at 12:11 a.m., the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a structure fire with injures located at N44 Clark Drive in the town of Maplehurst. Taylor County deputies along with fire and ambulance services were dispatched. Upon deputies’ arrival, they found a homemade structure built from an old camper frame on fire.

The owner of the structure, 50-yearold Matthew J. Zarins, was injured while escaping the structure and was burned along with other injuries. Jennifer K. Johnson, 51, of Stanley also escaped the structure but was severely burned. Both parties were transported by ambulance for medical treatment. Johnson died from her injuries while Zarins recovered.

A three-month long investigation by the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office into the death of Johnson resulted in Taylor County District Attorney Kristi Tlusty filing criminal charges against Zarins on May 2 and Judge Ann Knox-Bauer issuing a warrant for his arrest.

On May 3, at approximately 4 p.m., an arrest warrant for Zarins was executed at 123 N. Thomas St. in Loyal.

Taylor County detectives, with the assistance of the Loyal Police Department and Clark County Sheriff’s Office, entered the residence and ultimately located Zarins hiding in the attic to avoid detection. Zarins was taken into custody on the Taylor County warrant without incident. Zarins faces the following charges: Homicide by negligent handling of a dangerous weapon, a Class G felony. Manufacturing of Methamphetamine, a Class F felony. Possession of materials for manufacturing methamphetamine, a Class H felony. Maintaining a drug trafficking place, a Class I felony. Possession of waste from methamphetamine manufacturing, Class H felony.

Brian Wilson of The Star News, Medford, contributed to this report.

Matthew Zarins