Oct. 23--HARRISON COUNTY -- A Bay St. Louis man is accused of burglarizing a rural Pass Christian home that was destroyed by fire shortly after the break-in.

Myron J. Davenport Jr., 26, has not been charged in connection with Tuesday night's fire on North Pine Extension but he has been arrested on a burglary charge involving the mobile home.

Sheriff Melvin Brisolara said a fire investigator is trying to determine the cause of the blaze.

The mobile home had no utility service. Detectives said the woman who lives there has been staying at a nearby residence since her recent arrest on child-neglect charges. The charges were filed because she was accused of raising her children in a home without utilities.

Investigators said the woman had been spending some time at the mobile home during daylight hours.

Around 9:55 p.m. Tuesday, deputies stopped a black Nissan for speeding and improper passing on Meaut Road. The driver, identified as Davenport, had several fishing poles in his vehicle and jewelry in his front pocket.

Davenport told deputies he had just been at a friend's residence on North Pine Extension and had left with the items, Brisolara said.

Deputies became suspicious when they heard a dispatch for firefighters needed at the residence where Davenport had said he'd been.

Davenport, who lives on Second Street in the Bay, is charged with burglary of a dwelling and misdemeanors including DUI second offense.

He was booked without bond at the Harrison County jail. His bond on the felony was later set at $25,000.

George Mixon, Harrison County Fire Services coordinator, said the mobile home was fully engulfed in flames when the first unit arrived.

Volunteer fire stations responded with four trucks and 15 firefighters from West Harrison and a truck and three firefighters from Cuevas.

"With no electricity and no weather-related problems, there was no reason for a fire," said Mixon. "That's why we've turned it over to the sheriff's fire investigator."

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