The western Iowa man convicted earlier this week in federal court on pornography charges, now says he’s responsible for a fatal house fire. In interviews with Des Moines area media Thursday, 39-year old Brian Street claims he set fire to his family’s home in Griswold in March of 2005. He says he did it to kill his wife Debbie for subjecting her children to years of abuse from previous relationships with men.
Street’s 19-year old stepdaughter Tracey Dyess has admitted to starting the fire that killed her 13-year old sister and six-year old nephew. Dyess says she started fire to kill Street, who Dyess says was molesting her. She was convicted of arson, voluntary manslaughter and attempted murder, and is currently serving a 45-year prison sentence.
Street was convicted on federal charges of sexually exploiting Dyess when she was 17, and child pornography and says he forced Dyess to help him start the fire. He says he threatened to kill her if she wouldn’t help him. An official with the Iowa Department of Public Safety says authorities will follow-up on Street’s claim, but Cass County Attorney Dan Feistner, who prosecuted the Dyess case, says he doubts the claim is valid. He says even if it can be proven Tracey didn’t set the fire, that wouldn’t absolve her of the crime. She would still be found guilty of perjury under oath and accessory to murder, attempted murder and arson.
