Additional charges have been filed against Clayton Andrew Swanner, 35, of Crossville. White County State’s Attorney Denton Aud reviewed the report in reference to the fire in Crossville on Thursday, involving Swanner and Cathy Brandestein and has filed additional charges of Attempted First Degree Murder, 2 counts of Aggravated Arson, 1 count of Residential Arson, Aggravated Domestic Battery, on which he was held previously, 1 count of Aggravated Battery, and 1 count of Domestic Battery. The White County Sheriff’s Department was called to a residence in Crossville, where Cathy Brandenstein told Officers her son set fire to the house on Superior Lane and pushed her into the fire. She had severe burns on a major portion of her body. White County Ambulance and fire departments from Crossville, Carmi, and Little Wabash Fire Protection District were called to the scene.There was a small fire on the front porch, the living room had visible flames, and the house was filled with smoke. Officers located Swanner, a while later, walking down the road in front of the house and transported him to the jail. The White County Sheriff’s Office as well as the Illinois State Fire Marshall is conducting the investigation. Swanner is being held in the White County Jail on one million dollars bond. He had a First Appearance before Judge T. Scott Webb this (Tuesday) morning at 9:30 AM.
