Two Coventry women charged with burning down their own house
NORWICH – Two Coventry residents have been arrested after they allegedly set fire to their own home Aug. 13, in a blaze that destroyed the two-story house and all their possessions.
A number of area fire departments responded to the 10:20 p.m., Friday night fire after a neighbor called 911.
Firemen found the unoccupied home engulfed in flames when they arrived. Within a few hours, fire investigators inspecting the building’s debris found evidence of foul play and contacted the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office.
Lt. Richard Cobb said police spoke with the home’s owner at the time and received conflicting information about the incident. Cobb said they began a criminal investigation into the fire and sent away evidence for testing.
The fire investigation was recently completed and the findings indicated the fire was started in the home’s first floor using a liquid accelerant, possibly gasoline, Cobb said.
Police have charged the homeowner, 36-year-old Kimberly Koster and another unidentified 17-year-old female, who was also living at the residence, with third-degree arson and fourth-degree conspiracy, both felonies.
Though she is being charged as an adult, officials have not yet identified the teen. Cobb said other residents living at the house were not charged.
According to Cobb, the women were being charged with arson because they had a “proprietary interest” in the building’s destruction through insurance.
He noted investigators had not released any information regarding a possible motive for the crime, but did say drugs and alcohol were not a factor.
“It was a criminal act because there is a possibility of financial gain and the act put the lives of responders in jeopardy,” said Cobb, explaining firemen arriving at the scene searched the home for possible victims, placing themselves in danger.
Public Defender Alan Gordon said his office was representing Koster and the 17-year-old had been assigned to another attorney outside of the agency, saying the two would be represented separately in court.
The two were arraigned in Town of Oxford Court last week and Koster was remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility in lieu of $5,000 cash bail, while the teen was released.
The women waived their right to a felony hearing in Coventry Town Court Wednesday evening and are scheduled to appear before a Chenango County grand jury sometime next month, reported the public defender’s office.
Both have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Sheriff’s Office reported the investigation is continuing and further arrests or additional charges may be pending.
A number of area fire departments responded to the 10:20 p.m., Friday night fire after a neighbor called 911.
Firemen found the unoccupied home engulfed in flames when they arrived. Within a few hours, fire investigators inspecting the building’s debris found evidence of foul play and contacted the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office.
Lt. Richard Cobb said police spoke with the home’s owner at the time and received conflicting information about the incident. Cobb said they began a criminal investigation into the fire and sent away evidence for testing.
The fire investigation was recently completed and the findings indicated the fire was started in the home’s first floor using a liquid accelerant, possibly gasoline, Cobb said.
Police have charged the homeowner, 36-year-old Kimberly Koster and another unidentified 17-year-old female, who was also living at the residence, with third-degree arson and fourth-degree conspiracy, both felonies.
Though she is being charged as an adult, officials have not yet identified the teen. Cobb said other residents living at the house were not charged.
According to Cobb, the women were being charged with arson because they had a “proprietary interest” in the building’s destruction through insurance.
He noted investigators had not released any information regarding a possible motive for the crime, but did say drugs and alcohol were not a factor.
“It was a criminal act because there is a possibility of financial gain and the act put the lives of responders in jeopardy,” said Cobb, explaining firemen arriving at the scene searched the home for possible victims, placing themselves in danger.
Public Defender Alan Gordon said his office was representing Koster and the 17-year-old had been assigned to another attorney outside of the agency, saying the two would be represented separately in court.
The two were arraigned in Town of Oxford Court last week and Koster was remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility in lieu of $5,000 cash bail, while the teen was released.
The women waived their right to a felony hearing in Coventry Town Court Wednesday evening and are scheduled to appear before a Chenango County grand jury sometime next month, reported the public defender’s office.
Both have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Sheriff’s Office reported the investigation is continuing and further arrests or additional charges may be pending.
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