Setting fire to your house to avoid splitting the proceeds with your spouse in a divorce settlement is not a good idea. (Photo: Shutterstock)
An Arizona appellate court has affirmed a defendant's conviction for arson of an occupied structure. The decision illustrates the kinds of steps that the authorities take when investigating a suspected arson and the evidence that prosecutors can use to persuade a jury that the defendant is guilty.
The case
In the early morning hours of Jan. 25, 2016, a 911 caller alerted authorities to a home on fire in Gilbert, Arizona. When firefighters arrived on scene minutes later, the home was "fully involved" and in flames. The first police officer on the scene evacuated nearby homes because "[t]here was enough brush between the houses that … the fire might travel to a different residence." Homes to the north and south were evacuated. Although there was a "sale pending" sign in the front yard, firefighters observed doors ajar and open windows on the south side of the involved home. A gate at the back of the property that led to a vacant property also was open.
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