Man accused of killing ex-wife, son in house fire has motion to change venue of trial denied

OREGON, Ill. (WTVO) — The motion to move the murder trial of Duane Meyer, 42, who is accused of killing his ex-wife and son in a house fire in Byron in 2016, out of Ogle County has been denied.

The motion was filed on Friday, January 10th. Meyer’s trial was set to begin on February 3rd.

Margaret Meyer, 31, and her 3-year-old son, Amos, were both killed in the October 19th, 2016, fire at 2020 Silverthorn Lane. An investigation found that the fire started on the night of the 18th, but was not reported until the following morning.

Fire officials say the mother and boy were likely sleeping when the fire broke out.

Duane Meyer was arrested on the morning of October 9th, 2019, and charged with 4 counts of First Degree Murder, two counts of Aggravated Arson, and Concealment of a Homicidal Death.

When Maggie and Amos were killed, their friends and family started a foundation in their name. Maggie was a special education teacher in Chana, and the Maggie and Amos Foundation memorializes their lives through donations and scholarships.