Arkansas State Police taking new look at mysterious fire death from 2008

CLINTON (KATV) — Four siblings, all linked to arsons or attempted arsons in Van Buren County are step-children to a man whose wife died in a house fire.

It will be up to investigators to determine if this is a crazy coincidence or something more sinister.

Recent incidents of arson or attempted arson in Van Buren County have put a spotlight on domestic violence. Arkansas State Police are taking a new look at a mysterious death from 11 years ago.

Ruby Henley married at the age of 16. Ruby Watts finished high school, went to college and earned a bachelor's degree in education and later a master's degree.

She was 41-years-old and the mother of two when she died in a Marshall house fire on February 29, 2008.

The fire remains under investigation. Just last week, a new state trooper was assigned to the case.

Ruby's two sisters have long suspected that she was murdered.

They have started a Facebook page, Justice for Ruby, hoping to bring attention to her death.

Bikers Against Child Abuse visited Clinton on Tuesday to show support for current victims of domestic abuse, including those recently victimized by arson.

"Thank God BACA is here...Bikers Against Domestic Violence...because they are a little tougher than us Warriors Against Domestic Violence," said Terri Christie, one of Ruby Watt’s sisters.

Another one of Ruby's sisters claims an investigator told her shortly after her sister's death that the fire was suspicious and police had a suspect.

"They told me that they believed that he did kill my sister but they didn't have the evidence they needed to take him to trial,” recalled Lonnie Stripling. “Or so they felt they didn't. Sometimes he said it takes years for things like this to play out. And something else comes up. And then they have a case."

The death of Ruby Watts was ruled accidental 11 years ago and police have never publicly said her death was a homicide. But the fact that there remains an open and active investigation 11 years later speaks for itself.

The cause or origin of the fire that killed Ruby Watts has never been made public.

Air date: June 12th, 2019