Trial for Ogle County man, accused of killing ex-wife and son in arson fire, delayed until January

OREGON, Ill. (WTVO) — A man accused of killing his ex-wife and son in a Byron house fire in 2016 will go to trial for the crime in January 2026, nearly a year later than the trial was initially set to begin.

Duane Meyer, 43, was originally set to be tried on February 3rd, 2025, but his attorneys asked for a judge to move the case out of Ogle County.

That motion was denied in April.

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.

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.