PICKENS COUNTY — An Easley man is accused of setting the fire that caused his wife’s death

Don Kinsela, 49, has been indicted by a Pickens County Grand Jury on charges of murder and arson in connection with the death of his wife in July 2010.

Kinsela was arrested Tuesday afternoon by agents of the State Law Enforcement Division, the Easley Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, according to SLED Communications Director Jennifer Timmons.

According to the indictments, Kinsela is accused of killing his wife, Cheryl Kinsela, 47, by setting a storage building on fire while she was inside.

The fire occurred on July 3, 2010 at the Kinsela’s 131 Beverly Drive residence.

An Easley police officer said that upon arrival at the home, he saw thick smoke coming from a workshop at the residence.

The officer found Don Kinsela lying outside the workshop with a garden house, police said.

According to police, Kinsela told the officer his wife was inside the workshop.

After telling Kinsela they’d have to wait for fire personnel, the officer had to forcibly restrain Kinsela from re-entering the shed, police said.

Cheryl Kinsela was trapped inside a closet beneath the stairwell of the workshop

Firefighters were able to rescue her from the closet within 3 minutes of their arrival at the scene.

The Kinselas were transported to Baptist Easley Hospital, where Cheryl Kinsela was pronounced dead.

Pickens County Coroner Kandy Kelley said an autopsy showed Cheryl Kinsela died of smoke inhalation.

Don Kinsela suffered minor injuries in the fire.

According to police, he reported that he been refueling a weed eater in the workshop when the weed eater exploded.

Kinsela was arrested without incident, Timmons said.

The Easley Fire Department requested that SLED investigate the allegations, Timmons said.

The case will be prosecuted by the Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor’s Office.