Major charges against Baye thrown out

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) - A flawed confession is what led prosecutors to throw out arson and homicide charges against Anthony Baye. 

The 27-year-old Northampton man was accused of setting a series of fires in the city on December of 2009; one of the fires killed a father and a son.

Baye confessed to the crimes after a 10-hour interrogation but the state's highest court tossed out the confession. In the court ruling, the state's Supreme Judicial Court says police used improper techniques that mislead Baye; they mischaracterized the law of murder and exaggerated the strength of their case.

Alex Keel of Amherst told 22News, “It seems like the prosecution just wanted someone brought to justice and they kind of used him as a scapegoat to alleviate the concerns of the community but I don't know if any type of conviction that's wrapped up in red tape is going to really make them feel better.”

The DA says the case presented to the grand jury who indicted Baye on arson and homicide charges revolved around the confession. 

Because this confession is now inadmissible in court, they must launch a new investigation. If you have any information on the fires, you can email a tip to reportit@wwlp.com.