On 06-21-20 at approximately 9:45 p.m., Hernando County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the Sail Inn, located at 6107 Broad Street in Brooksville, regarding an Assault.
At nearly the same time, Hernando County Fire Rescue units were dispatched to a residence on Broad Street (near the Sail Inn) regarding a Residential Fire. Deputies were dispatched to the scene as well. It was not known at the onset that the two incidents were related.
Upon arrival at the initial call (Sail Inn), the deputy observed a female by the back door of the establishment; she was crying hysterically and attempting to hold three children.
The female victim told deputies she had been involved in an argument with a person with whom she resides, identified as Kurtis Kelbough. During the argument, Kelbough became irate and retrieved a knife from the kitchen. He used the knife to threaten to kill the female and the three children. Kelbough then went after the victim and held the knife to her throat.
In fear that she would be severely injured or killed, the victim escaped from Kelbough’s grasp and ran from the residence, taking with her three small children who were also in the residence at the time of the attack.
While speaking with the victim, deputies learned that the Residential Fire was occurring at the house she ran from. The victim told deputies the house was not on fire when she left, and she believed that Kelbough set it on fire.
Deputies on scene at the Residential Fire located Kelbough coming out of a wooded area near the residence. Kurtis Richard Kelbough DOB/12-24-1970 was placed under arrest and charged as follows:
– Aggravated Battery (Domestic)
– Aggravated Assault (Domestic) – 3 counts
– Bond – None (due to domestic charges).
The victim and children were assisted with housing by the American Red Cross, as the residence was completely destroyed by the fire.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office is handling the Arson investigation.
