Police shed more light on family arson case
NORWICH – Police say a grandfather knew his family members were going to try to burn down their Coventry home last August.
The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office arrested the grandfather, 70-year-old Joseph S. Dietzman, his daughter, 36-year-old homeowner Kimberly Koster and her daughter, 17-year-old Chelsie M. Koster, following investigation into a Coventry blaze on Aug. 13.
Dietzman appeared in Chenango County Court Friday during an arson evidence hearing, at which police contended he admitted to having knowledge of the crime before the home was set ablaze.
All three co-defendants were indicted Oct. 20 for third degree arson, a class C felony, and fourth degree conspiracy, a misdemeanor, after they allegedly collaborated in burning down the Kosters’ Coventry home.
“The defendant did intentionally damage her dwelling by pouring gasoline inside her residence which was later set on fire by a co-defendant, causing complete loss of the residence,” stated Kimberly Koster’s indictment.
The indictment identified that codefendant as her daughter, Chelsie. She participated in the incident “by starting a fire when she intentionally lit a match and placed it on a pile of clothes inside the residence,” according to the indictment.
The two were arrested after evidence testing identified gasoline as the substance used to start the fire, police said.
Several area fire departments responded to the fire at 10:20 p.m. Aug. 13, at 1636 State Highway 235, after a neighbor called 911.
Firemen arrived to find the home unoccupied and engulfed in flames. Within a few hours, investigators inspecting the debris found evidence of foul play and contacted the Sheriff’s Office.
Lt. Richard Cobb said police spoke with home’s owner, Kimberly Koster, and received conflicting information about the incident.
Dietzman was arrested in early November after the Kosters were charged, and for the first time Friday, police portrayed his role in the crime during an evidence hearing.
“He basically stated he knew of the arson before it happened,” testified Undersheriff James Lloyd. Lloyd told the court he interviewed Dietzman on Sept. 23 at the Sheriff Office’s Coventry substation.
Lloyd claimed Dietzman acknowledged having a prior conversation with relatives about setting the home on fire and that he later drove Chelsie to the location the night it burned.
“He also said his granddaughter had asked him for matches sometime before they left, but he denied giving them to her,” testified Lloyd. The undersheriff said he asked Dietzman why he transported his granddaughter to the home on the night of the incident. “He said he didn’t know why he brought her there,” testified Lloyd.
The undersheriff drew his remarks from a typed, three-page statement, signed by Dietzman, which was placed into evidence by First Assistant District Attorney Stephen M. Dunshee.
Defense Attorney Frank Revoir Jr. pointed out the undersheriff had appeared at Dietzman’s house without prior notification in an unmarked police car and was not wearing a police uniform while he conducted the interview.
Lloyd testified that he wore his usual business suit and read Dietzman his Miranda rights before the interview. Dunshee presented a Miranda warning document into evidence, also allegedly signed by Dietzman on the day of the interview.
Lloyd said at no time was Dietzman placed under arrest until about a week after the meeting. “He was free to leave at anytime,” said Lloyd.
Revoir asked if Lloyd considered Dietzman a possible suspect at the time of the interview, to which the undersheriff said “No, not at that time.” Lloyd said police were gathering information for the investigation.
Police said the women in the case were being charged with arson for destroying their own property because they hoped to get insurance money.
“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.
Dietzman, who is not incarcerated, will appear in court at a later date.
The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office arrested the grandfather, 70-year-old Joseph S. Dietzman, his daughter, 36-year-old homeowner Kimberly Koster and her daughter, 17-year-old Chelsie M. Koster, following investigation into a Coventry blaze on Aug. 13.
Dietzman appeared in Chenango County Court Friday during an arson evidence hearing, at which police contended he admitted to having knowledge of the crime before the home was set ablaze.
All three co-defendants were indicted Oct. 20 for third degree arson, a class C felony, and fourth degree conspiracy, a misdemeanor, after they allegedly collaborated in burning down the Kosters’ Coventry home.
“The defendant did intentionally damage her dwelling by pouring gasoline inside her residence which was later set on fire by a co-defendant, causing complete loss of the residence,” stated Kimberly Koster’s indictment.
The indictment identified that codefendant as her daughter, Chelsie. She participated in the incident “by starting a fire when she intentionally lit a match and placed it on a pile of clothes inside the residence,” according to the indictment.
The two were arrested after evidence testing identified gasoline as the substance used to start the fire, police said.
Several area fire departments responded to the fire at 10:20 p.m. Aug. 13, at 1636 State Highway 235, after a neighbor called 911.
Firemen arrived to find the home unoccupied and engulfed in flames. Within a few hours, investigators inspecting the debris found evidence of foul play and contacted the Sheriff’s Office.
Lt. Richard Cobb said police spoke with home’s owner, Kimberly Koster, and received conflicting information about the incident.
Dietzman was arrested in early November after the Kosters were charged, and for the first time Friday, police portrayed his role in the crime during an evidence hearing.
“He basically stated he knew of the arson before it happened,” testified Undersheriff James Lloyd. Lloyd told the court he interviewed Dietzman on Sept. 23 at the Sheriff Office’s Coventry substation.
Lloyd claimed Dietzman acknowledged having a prior conversation with relatives about setting the home on fire and that he later drove Chelsie to the location the night it burned.
“He also said his granddaughter had asked him for matches sometime before they left, but he denied giving them to her,” testified Lloyd. The undersheriff said he asked Dietzman why he transported his granddaughter to the home on the night of the incident. “He said he didn’t know why he brought her there,” testified Lloyd.
The undersheriff drew his remarks from a typed, three-page statement, signed by Dietzman, which was placed into evidence by First Assistant District Attorney Stephen M. Dunshee.
Defense Attorney Frank Revoir Jr. pointed out the undersheriff had appeared at Dietzman’s house without prior notification in an unmarked police car and was not wearing a police uniform while he conducted the interview.
Lloyd testified that he wore his usual business suit and read Dietzman his Miranda rights before the interview. Dunshee presented a Miranda warning document into evidence, also allegedly signed by Dietzman on the day of the interview.
Lloyd said at no time was Dietzman placed under arrest until about a week after the meeting. “He was free to leave at anytime,” said Lloyd.
Revoir asked if Lloyd considered Dietzman a possible suspect at the time of the interview, to which the undersheriff said “No, not at that time.” Lloyd said police were gathering information for the investigation.
Police said the women in the case were being charged with arson for destroying their own property because they hoped to get insurance money.
“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.
Dietzman, who is not incarcerated, will appear in court at a later date.
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