Four GA Residents under Fire for Arsons

A man and three women have been arrested in Georgia and charged with arson. Six homes were burned.

According to the LaGrange Daily News and the Troup County Sheriff, Donny Turner, Reginald Robertson now faces two counts of aggravated assault, one count of insurance fraud and six counts of first-degree arson.

Officials said Robertson set fire to his double-wide mobile home, which was one of six residences that burned during the early morning hours of May 30th.

The original report of a fire was made at about 3:15 am on May 30th, where occupants were inside when the blaze began. While firefighters were on their way, four other blazes were discovered. All five were started within a 45-minute period.

A sixth arson that was set the same day was discovered on June 9th. No one noticed the fire because it had extinguished itself before the owner returned home.

Turner stated that an investigation by his office, along with state fire officials, found that “in the midst the investigation, we learned that this house had a large amount of accelerants placed inside the residence,” along with multiple individuals who had insurance policies on the residence. Those policies total $235,425, with Robertson’s policy alone being worth $138,425.

According to officials, one of the insurance policies was held by someone who didn’t even live there.

As noted by WRBL News, several Crime Stoppers tips relating to the fires led investigators to a “person of interest.” That person just happened to be the home’s owner, even though he did not reside at the residence. The home was instead occupied by three adult females and four children.

According to their own account, the residents were not at home during the time of the fire. They further stated that they were in attendance at a Memorial Day Weekend party in LaGrange.

The three adult females, Erica Williams, Maxine Cameron and Vitina Robertson, were arrested on June 16th. An investigation three days earlier led investigators to items that were conveniently removed from the home the day before it was burned, including important documents such as diplomas, bills, and pictures, along with appliances, medication, baby clothing and shoes. The women were all charged with being a party to first-degree arson, since their original claim of “losing everything” didn’t seem to hold up anymore.

Statements from Robertson didn’t seem to hold up either. He stated that he was at his permanent residence in Statesboro, GA during the time of the fire, even though further investigation proved that he was in the area at approximately 4:14 am on the morning of the fires, ten minutes before the fire at his house would be discovered.

Sheriff Turner stated that the investigation is on-going, “The connection with the other five fires is being thoroughly examined. If a link is determined to exist among the fires, further charges may ensue.”