Couple Charged with Arson, no Perks for the Purks

It’s always nice to see husbands working together with their wives, either on a project, or as part of their jobs. It’s not so nice when the project involves setting their house on fire.

According to ABC News, an Ohio couple was charged with setting their home on fire so that they could collect the insurance money.

Police stated that Scott and Tammy Purk intentionally set their house on fire back in March of 2009 because they wanted the $150,000 claims payout. Due to the fire, the house was deemed a total loss.

This may not be Scott Purk’s first experience with arson however, as he is also suspected of setting fire to a duplex back in March of 2010. This blaze caused about $36,000 in damages and is believed to have been set to throw the police off of Purk’s tail and towards a “serial arsonist.”

Even when it comes to charges other than arson, Mr. Purk is certainly no stranger to jail time. He was also known as the “ninja burglar” back in the mid 1980’s, for which he served 7 years is prison.

Authorities note that Scott Purk did not know the people who lived at the home addresses.

Both fires were started during the early morning hours when the victims were sleeping, but everyone escaped.

Scott Purk is facing four counts of aggravated arson, two charges of attempted aggravated murder –for the people who were still in their homes when fires were set, and one count of insurance fraud.

Tammy Purk was charged with two counts of aggravated arson and one count of insurance fraud.

The Purks were arraigned on August 1^st in Stow Municipal Court.