Gloversville Landlord Convicted in Deadly Arson

A Gloversville man found himself on a murder trial this week stemming from an arson that occurred in 2007.  Jeffrey Alnutt was convicted yesterday for setting fire to his apartment building he owned at 22 Park Street in Gloversville and killing the upstairs tenant, 39 year-old Debbie Morris.  Prosecutors believe his motive was to collect on the $307,000 insurance claim he filed four days later. 

Alnutt is no stranger to dangerous schemes.  According to The Post Standard, he and two others were convicted last year in an arson case at another property he owned.

“Alnutt is accused of filing insurance claims for the loss of the Steele Street residence, according to the indictment. He collected nearly $200,000 in payments from the Security Mutual Insurance Co.”

“Two others, Aubrey Pagan and Victor Pagan, were convicted of aiding in the scheme. Both Pagans were convicted of insurance fraud, grand larceny, conspiracy and reckless endangerment.”

In 1988, he was convicted for selling cocaine and served seven years in prison.  Before that, he was linked by the FBI to a 1974 bank robbery that resulted in the death of Damon Larrabee, a 17 year old bank janitor, though he was never prosecuted for his alleged role. 

Unfortunately, Ms. Morris paid the ultimate price to put a career criminal behind bars once and for all.

According to WRGB, Alnutt, 55, was found guilty in a five-count indictment for second-degree murder, second-degree manslaughter, second-degree arson and third-degree arson and reckless endangerment.  He faces 25 to life in prison when he is sentenced.