Prosecutors have charged a Warren County man for starting a fire in a travel camper that killed one dog and burned another.

Dennis O. Perine II, 44, was charged on Sept. 23 with arson and animal abuse, stemming from an Aug. 1 blaze on Highway H outside of Wright City. Perine reportedly resided in the camper along with another person.

According to charging documents, a Warren County sheriff’s detective investigating the fire acquired camera footage of Perine approaching the area of the camper carrying a red gas can. Camera footage then shows him leaving the area without the gas canister, the sheriff’s department said.

After the fire was extinguished, responders reportedly located a large dog inside the camper that had died. Another small dog reportedly suffered significant burns in the fire.

The second resident of the camper told responders that she had been looking after the larger dog for another person.

Investigators located and interviewed Perine, during which he allegedly admitted to starting the fire in response to an argument he had with the other resident. Perine allegedly acknowledged that he knew there were a total of four animals inside the camper when he started the fire, but that he was only concerned with removing his own belongings.

Perine was arrested Sept. 28 and is being held at the Warren County Jail without bond until he appears before a judge.