Woman accused of setting house on fire in Scott City
SCOTT COUNTY, Mo. (KFVS) - A woman is in custody in connection with a house fire in Scott City on Wednesday afternoon, November 8.
The suspect was identified as Patricia L. Graf, 44, of Scott City. She’s facing a charge of second-degree arson.
According to court documents, a neighbor saw smoke coming from the house and when he walked to the home to see what happened, he said he saw Graf near the garage taking items out of it. The witness said Graf told him she was burning some boxes and the fire got out of control. She then ran into a wooded area.
While talking to the homeowner, he told investigators that he lived there with Graf. The homeowner played them a recording of Graf he said was made that morning in which investigators could hear Graf threatening to start a fire.
Court documents state investigators found a box of matches, a container of lighter fluid and burnt cardboard boxes near the pool at the home.
During an interview with a Scott County deputy, Graf admitted to using the lighter fluid and matches to light the cardboard box near the pool. According to court documents, Graf denied spraying liquid fluid in the other three areas where an arson K-9 detected accelerant.
The state fire marshal was called in to investigate.
Scott City Fire Chief Shawn Jackson said firefighters were called to the scene of a two-story house fire around 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday. When they arrived, the home was fully engulfed in flames.
It happened on a one-way county road on Lakeview Drive.
The fire was initially spreading to nearby a nearby tree-line.
One firefighter was transported to a Cape Girardeau hospital for minor injuries.
Fire Chief Jackson said the situation has been contained.
Traffic on the roadway was blocked as crews cleared the area.
The Scott City Fire Department was assisted by the Cape Girardeau Fire Department., Chaffee Fire Department., Gordonville Fire Protection District, Benton Fire Department, NBC Fire Protection District, Scott County Rural Fire Protection District and the Scott County Sheriff’s Office.
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