Arson—Texas

Amount: Unknown

Two Texas men accused of intentionally setting their home on fire in June were indicted last week. Arson is a common occurrence in the insurance industry, but becomes exponentially more egregious when rescue workers are injured as a result of the arson. The fire was reported by a driver passing by the home in Magnolia, Texas around 4:00 am. The two occupants of the home had checked into a hotel only hours before the fire was reported. Firefighters from the Magnolia Volunteer Fire Department responded to the fire and noted that a vehicle was parked in the driveway but nobody was standing outside of the home. Firefighters are trained to assume that if: 1) there is a fire in the early hours of the morning; 2) there is a vehicle parked outside of the home; and 3) there are no evacuees, then there are likely people still inside the burning home. The firefighters entered the burning home and found no victims trapped inside. Instead, they discovered a giant hole in the middle of the second floor when a firefighter fell through the hole to the ground floor. Investigators found evidence that suggest that the fire was set intentionally. The two occupants of the home were arrested and are charged with first-degree felony arson and felony insurance fraud. They will face up to a life prison sentence if they are convicted.