Arson Investigator Charged in Fire-for-Hire Scheme

One of Bridgeport’s top arson investigators has found herself under investigation for allegedly hiring a known convict to torch her Mercedes in order to collect insurance money.

According to the CT Post, 41-year-old Kimberly Biehn, a veteran police detective and a member of the Police Department’s Identification Unit, was arrested by Waterbury police and was charged after DNA samples were collected from her destroyed 2003 Mercedes Benz sedan she reported stolen in 2008.  The DNA matched that of a man with a history of criminal convictions who then implicated Biehn during the  interrogation with authorities.

“During the investigation of the burned-out car, [Waterbury Police Captain Christopher] Corbett said police located a DNA sample that was later determined to match the DNA of 35-year-old Samuel Encarnacion who, court records show, ha s a history of criminal convictions, including third-degree assault, violation of a protective order and violation of probation.”

“He said after questioning Encarnacion, Corbett said they were able to determine that he had set fire to the car at the behest of Biehn so that she could collect on her insurance.”

Biehn willingly surrendered after she learned there was a warrant out for her arrest and was charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree arson, fraud and insurance fraud.  She is currently out on bond, but has been suspended without pay pending an investigation by the city’s Office of Internal Affairs.  Encarnacion is charged with first-degree arson for his participation in the scheme.  Other convictions that can be found on his rap sheet include third-degree assault, violation of a protective order and violation of probation.