Police have released more details about the events surrounding the death of a 70-year-old Carrollton man more than a week ago, including cause of death and a possible motive.

The Jan. 19 fire that claimed the life of Alvin Driver is believed to have been started by his grandson, 22-year-old Anthony Prothro of Carrollton.

Lt. James Perry of the Carrollton Police Department said Prothro, who made a full confession to police last Thursday, allegedly killed his grandfather on Wednesday of that week, before setting his house on fire Saturday.

Prothro, who had no prior criminal history, went to Driver’s home on Foster Street on Wednesday, Jan. 16, with the intention of robbing him, Perry said. The man broke into Driver’s home, and a confrontation and argument followed.

At that time, Perry said Prothro killed his mother’s father with blunt force trauma. No gunplay or stabbing is suspected.

After allegedly killing Driver, Prothro took some money and the keys to Driver’s truck, which he left in Wednesday. Later that night, Prothro returned the car.

The next day, Prothro told police he came back to his grandfather’s home, went into the house, retrieved the keys to the truck and took it again, returning it again later that night.

On Friday, he did the same thing, Perry said, going into the house, taking the truck and returning it later that night.

In the early morning hours Saturday, Prothro confessed to police that he went back to Driver’s home, doused an area in gasoline and set it on fire.

Firefighters found Driver’s body in the living room of his home at about 5 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 19.

Capt. Chris Dobbs of CPD said his office opened an investigation into the death when an autopsy report from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab reported that the death should be ruled a homicide.

Police served a warrant on Prothro last Thursday, at which time he was taken to the police department to be interviewed. During the interview, he gave a full confession, Perry said.

Perry said public input was invaluable to their arrest of Prothro, saying a witness nearby spotted Prothro climbing into Driver’s house on Wednesday during the original burglary.

“As always, public input is our best resource as police officers,” Perry said. “We’d like to thank all the tips and input we got about this case. It helped us out a lot.”

Police charged Prothro with murder, arson and tampering with evidence, but Perry said many more charges could be forthcoming when the case is brought to the grand jury.

Prothro is currently in Carroll County Jail, awaiting a bond hearing.