The man at the center of one of the most tragic events in Lawrence County’s history is dead.

Todd Hall, 43, died on March 8 at the Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare Center in Athens, according to Lawrence County Prosecuting Attorney Brigham Anderson.

Hall had been hospitalized since being found incompetent to stand trial in the deaths of nine people at a fireworks store in July of 1996 in Scottown. Several others were also injured in the blaze.

Hall, 24 at the time of the incident, was said to have tossed a lighted cigarette into the fireworks store, setting off an explosion and fire.

The brain-injured man was said to have the mental capacity of a 10-year-old, the result of a skateboarding accident in 1987, which led to the removal of part of his brain.

Hall made court appearances about every two years and was found incompetent to stand trial each time.

“Common pleas court lost jurisdiction of him approximately two years ago and he was under the supervision of Athens County Probate Court,” Anderson said.