Teen son arrested for murder in California foothill fire deaths

A 16-year-old Benicia resident has been charged with murder for allegedly killing his father, step-brother and his father’s fiancée in the family’s El Dorado County cabin and then burning the cabin down, El Dorado County officials announced Thursday afternoon.

Nolan Buchanan was arrested at his high school in Benicia on Thursday, El Dorado County Sheriff John D’Agostini said at a news conference.

D’Agostini said arson investigators and sheriff’s detectives joined in the investigation.

The blaze destroyed the cabin, located in a 20-acre land, the family’s attorney said.

On September 19, Benicia police officers, serving a search warrant at Buchanan Construction Company that was owned by Adam Buchanan, found a firearm and ammunition, along with identifications for Adam and Molly McAfee.

Family members were too distraught to release a statement on Thursday.

“These are rare. We investigate them thoroughly… but they are absolutely tragic cases”, D’Agostino said.

The son has been identified as 16-year-old Nolen Buchanan.

The fire was reported at about 11 a.m. September 13 and human remains were later found inside the cabin at 4646 Highway 193 in Greenwood. Buchanan was attending class while living with his grandmother, police said. The family is from Benicia, according to authorities.

The teen will be tried as an adult, according to the district attorney’s office.

But the mystery of the missing family took a dramatic turn when sheriff’s officials said that the charred remains of three people were recovered in the cabin. Adam Buchanan is president and chief operating officer of Buchanan Construction in Benicia.

Stay with KRON for updates.

D’Agostini declined to discuss a motive for the shootings. Later burned. 16-yr-old son Nolen Buchanan arrested for murder.