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Troy arson, murder suspect denied bond

By Pat Pratt

ppratt@timestribunenews.com

Circuit Judge Neil Schroeder on Monday denied a bond reduction for a man accused of arson and murder in Troy.

Court records show Michael Sloan Jr., 40, will remain in the Madison County Jail without the possibility of bond on charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder and arson. A trial date has not been set. 

Sloan is accused of killing 69-year-old Susanne Tomlinson of Troy. Authorities say on Sept. 22 he was seen carrying a can of gas before he set fire to the duplex she lived in the 500 block of Wood Thrush Street in Troy. Medical examiners listed her cause of death as smoke inhalation. 

Prior to the arson, Sloan allegedly attempted to murder Tomlinson’s daughter Courtney Tomlinson. He is accused of holding her at knifepoint, using zip ties to restrain her and pouring gasoline on her.

Sloan too was injured in the fire, which was the basis of a motion filed for a reduced bail of $400,000. His bail was originally set at $1 million then later ordered to no possibility of bond. 

In a bond reduction motion filed Nov. 4, defense attorney Justin Kuehn wrote that doctors said Sloan’s burn rehabilitation is not medically necessary, that is he would not die without it. However, the rehabilitation would greatly improve his long-term health. 

District attorneys argued he should not be granted bail, writing that the proof of Sloan’s crimes is evident, as is the danger posed to a surviving victim in the case, Courtney Tomlinson.

 

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