Escambia County Sheriff says the 2 children were killed before mobile home fire on Friday morning

ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (WALA) - The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has released an update in their investigation of this fire.

According to investigators with the ECSO the two children were killed before the fire was allegedly set by John Henry Walston Jr.

In the course of the investigation it was discovered that Walston allegedly assaulted one of the children before he allegedly killed both children, and ran to safety.

Walston has been charged with 2 counts of premeditated murder, 1 count of sexual assault of a child under 12, and one count of arson.

Original Story---

Two children and a dog were found dead inside a mobile home that was fully engulfed in flames when fighters arrived on the scene just before 1 a.m. Friday, according to Escambia County Fire Rescue.

This was in the 5900 block of Flaxman Street.

Firefighters arrived with heavy flames and smoke engulfing the single-wide mobile home, said Escambia County Fire Rescue spokesman Davis Wood. There were reports of two children inside the home, but because of the significance of the fire firefighters had to knock down the flames before they could enter the home, Wood told FOX10 News.

Once they made entry, they found the two children and dog deceased inside, Wood said.

Wood said Escambia County EMS treated two adults and one pediatric patient who were outside of the home. They were taken to area hospitals with fire-related injuries, he said.

The home was determined to be a total loss.

The fire is being investigated by the Bureau of Fire, Arson and Explosives, with assistance from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.