A 51-year-old Centre woman was arrested earlier this week after an investigation into a fire and subsequent burglary at a residence in the Bomar community. The fire, which caused partial damage to the home, was initially thought to have been accidental.
Sheriff Jeff Shaver reported that the investigation took a new turn when deputies responded to a burglary report at the same home the day after the fire. Due to suspicious circumstances, the deputy called in investigators from the Sheriff’s Office, who were joined by the State Fire Marshal’s Office for forensic evidence collection.
As the investigation continued, inconsistencies in the homeowner’s account of the events began to surface. After a thorough investigation, authorities arrested Mary Ann Studdard, a Centre resident, and charged her with the following:
Arson in the 2nd Degree
Insurance Fraud in the 1st Degree
Studdard’s arrest follows the discovery of evidence suggesting intentional actions related to both the fire and the burglary.
