Serving the High Plains

Day home, slaying scene, leveled by fire

The site of the November 2012 slayings of Sue Day and her daughter Sherry Folts burned to the ground early Monday.

The abandoned mobile homes where the victims and their slayer Tony Day lived were leveled by a fire that started in a corner of one of the mobile homes. The fire then spread rapidly through both buildings, which were attached to each other, according to the Rev. John Hinze, chief of the Rural District 1 Fire Department.

A non-operable pickup truck was also destroyed, Hinze said. The fire’s origin was suspicious, Hinze said.

Power to the mobile homes had been turned off, Hinze said.

Mike Day, Sue’s husband and owner of the property, has been living in the Albuquerque area.

Firefighters were called to the scene a few minutes before 3 a.m. Monday, Hinze said, and they stayed until about 8 a.m.

Quay County Fire Marshal Donald Adams said the state fire marshal’s office will investigate.

Tony Day, the adopted son of Mike and Sue Day, was 14 at the time of slayings. He pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and was sentenced as a juvenile in August. He remains in custody of New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department until he is 21.

Deputy Fire Marshal Randy Arnold said it was too early in the investigation to start looking for persons with possible motives for setting the blaze.