Kentucky judge orders Army wife held without bond

PADUCAH, KY - A judge has ordered a Fort Campbell, KY soldier's wife, whose husband is from Gainesville, held without bond on charges that she set a 2007 fire that killed two of her children.

U.S. District Judge Thomas Russell ruled last week that releasing Billie Jo Smallwood, 35, would pose a danger to the public.

Smallwood's attorneys argued that she should be allowed to live with her sister and mother in Brunswick, GA. Her sister, Jennifer Rotz, testified that Smallwood was a loving parent.

Spc. Wayne Smallwood says investigators' claim that his wife was trying to harm him is absurd. He said his wife saved one child and tried to get back inside to save the others.

The fire occurred at the post on the Kentucky-Tennessee border. Smallwood was arrested in November.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2009/3/218671