Murder, arson charges dropped against Anthony Baye

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) - The Northwestern District Attorney is dropping homicide and arson charges against Anthony Baye , the man accused of setting a series of fires in Northampton in December of 2009, one of which killed a father and son.

Mary Carey of the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office told 22News that prosecutors have decided to dismiss the charges following a May 21 decision by the state Supreme Judicial Court , which threw out Baye’s videotaped confession. The court had ruled that state troopers made “misrepresentations” to Baye while they interviewed him over a 10-hour period of time.

Carey said that they will try to present the case to a new grand jury, because the statements Baye made in the interview formed a large part of the grand jury presentation which resulted in the indictments.

On the night of December 27, 2009, several cars and homes were set on fire in an area of Northampton just northeast of the downtown area. Paul Yeskie, Sr. and his son, Paul Yeskie, Jr. died when they had become trapped inside their burning home on Fair Street.

Baye remains in the Hampshire County Jail in Northampton on $150,000 bail, on six remaining indictments, charging him with misleading authorities in their investigation of the fires.

If you have any information on the fires, you are urged to call the State Police Arson Hotline at (800) 682-9229, the Northampton Police Detectives Unit at (413) 587-1100, or you can anonymously text a tip to the Northwestern DA’s office by texting “PROTECT” and your message to 274637.