MARYVILLE, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) — Jury selection is expected to begin Monday in the case of a Walland man charged in connection with a deadly house fire that claimed the lives of three people in Blount County.
Johnny Ray Wilburn faces multiple charges, including first-degree murder, after investigators alleged he intentionally set a fire at a home on Payne Hollow Road in Walland in January 2025.
Authorities said the fire resulted in the deaths of Norma Farley, Delmar Farley and Cas Farley. The case has remained one of the most high-profile criminal prosecutions in Blount County since the fatal blaze occurred nearly two years ago.
Investigators launched a lengthy inquiry following the fire and ultimately charged Wilburn with murder and other offenses related to the incident.
Following the deaths, family members spoke publicly about the impact of the loss. Stephanie Cook, who lost her aunt, uncle and aunt’s brother-in-law in the fire, described the victims as generous people who were always willing to help others.
“They’d give you the shirt off their back. If you needed a place to stay, they would invite you into their home,” Cook told WVLT News in 2025. “It’s a huge loss. I mean it’s a whole family we lost on both sides.”
Court proceedings are expected to begin with jury selection before attorneys deliver opening statements and present evidence. Prosecutors are expected to argue that Wilburn was responsible for setting the fire that killed the three victims, while the defense will have the opportunity to challenge the allegations during trial.
The trial is expected to draw significant attention from the community as family members continue seeking justice for their loved ones.
