Man faces charges in fire set at family home

Sunday, August 20, 2006 LANSFORD, Pa. (AP) — A man set his wife's bed ablaze as she and their three children slept, then sat downstairs drinking beer and waiting for their screams, police said. Michael J. Feisel, 31, told police he initially planned to rescue his family, but then "decided to just let whatever happens happen," authorities said. Amy Feisel rescued herself and her children — ages, 10, 8 and 5 — with a neighbor's help. Michael Feisel set the blaze around 4 a.m. Friday after a night of drinking and drug use by the couple that led to a fight in which he struck, choked and pulled the hair of his wife, authorities charged. Amy Feisel told police she awoke to the sight of flames and her husband standing at the foot of the bed. "This is how it's going to happen," he said as he left to go downstairs, authorities said. He was charged with four counts of attempted homicide and sent to Carbon County Prison under $500,000 cash bail. Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.