A brain-damaged man accused of starting a 1996 fire at an Ohio fireworks store that killed nine people died earlier this month at a mental health facility . Todd Hall died March 8 in Athens where he had been getting treatment for the last several years , according to the Lawrence County Prosecutor 's Office . A cause of death for the 43-year-old could n't be immediately confirmed Monday . Suspect : Todd Hall , center , miles before leaving court in Ironton , Ohio ( 2002 file photo ) . Hall was accused of starting a 1996 fire at an Ohio fireworks store that killed nine people . Hall , of Proctorville , was 24 when prosecutors say that , as a prank , he threw a lighted cigarette on a shelf crammed with fireworks at the Ohio River Fireworks store in Scottown , about 100 miles southeast of Cincinnati . The blaze on July 3 , 1996 , killed nine people and eleven people were injured . Five of the victims were from Ohio ; the four others were from nearby West Virginia . According to court testimony , Hall had part of his brain removed after suffering a serious injury in a 1987 skateboard accident and had the mental capacity of a 10-year-old . The Daily Independent reported that victims included 24-year-old Ryan Aldridge ; 3-year-old Shelbi Cron ; 21-year-old Misti Cron , 31-year-old Candy Lee , 14-year-old Matt Sansom , 8-year-old Ona Tolliver , 34-year-old Floyd Tolliver , 9-year-old Jason Wallace , and 71-year-old Kathlene Wilks . According to court testimony , Hall had part of his brain removed after suffering a serious injury in a 1987 skateboard accident and had the mental capacity of a 10-year-old . Charged with aggravated arson and nine counts of involuntary manslaughter , he repeatedly was ruled incompetent to stand trial in the years since then . In recent years , he had shown severe impairments in his ability to control his behavior , regulate his mood and take care of himself and was deemed incapable of living outside a facility , according to the last court-ordered evaluation a few years ago . The Daily Independent reported that Hall giggled and sang the Star-Spangled Banner in court . Authorities initially thought three friends challenged Hall to set the fire , but they all passed polygraph tests and were never charged . About 40 people were in the store at the time and ran for the exits when fireworks started going off .
Todd Hall was 43 when died March 8 in a behavioral health facility in Athens , according to the Lawrence County Prosecutor 's Office . He has reportedly been getting treatment at the facility for several years . The prosecutor said that while it is not clear what caused his death, he believes there were no other options available and that Hall’s death could have been prevented.