Man critical after driving into estranged wife's house, setting it ablaze

A 50-year-old man was severely injured Sunday after El Paso County sheriff’s deputies say he crashed his car into the Black Forest home of his estranged wife, set the house on fire and then barricaded himself inside.

William Anthony Gooch, 50, was in critical condition Monday morning in the burn unit at the Anschutz Medical Campus in Denver, according to hospital officials.

Deputy Teresa Murphy said Gooch slammed his car into the house at 16520 Great Smokey Avenue about 11:15 p.m. Sunday.

His estranged wife, who fled the house, called 911.

Deputies said when they arrived Gooch had lit the house on fire and was barricaded inside. He told authorities that he used gasoline to start the blaze.

Murphy said a SWAT team and crisis negotiators tried to talk Gooch into coming outside.

“He was in the home for quite a while before he left through a window, with a weapon,” Murphy said.

She said he fired his gun and the shot went into the ground.

Deputies subdued Gooch with a stun gun and arrested him on suspicion of first degree arson, felony menacing and failure to leave premises upon the request of a peace officer.

Initially he was flown to Memorial Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation, and then to the Denver hospital.

“He was transported to a Denver burn unit, so his injuries must have been significant,” Murphy said.

Murphy said this isn’t the first time that Gooch has barricaded himself inside the home.

In August 2009, Gooch was arrested after a six-hour standoff. That time, Murphy said, he had a gun and was threatening suicide.

According to court records, Gooch’s ex-wife filed for restraining orders against him in January and August 2008. She filed for divorce Nov. 2.

Murphy said the house, valued at $282,000 by the El Paso County assessor, burned to its foundation.

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