MARYSVILLE — Security cameras captured a woman watching an abandoned house burn.
On June 14, four other fires were ignited in north Marysville. Police on Monday told prosecutors they have probable cause for first-degree arson charges.
The suspect, a 38-year-old woman, was arrested the day of the fires. At the time, she was wanted by police in connection with a different reckless burning case.
A judge Tuesday set the woman’s bail at $25,000.
The first fire started around 2:10 p.m. Video surveillance from a business showed the woman walking into an abandoned house in the 11000 block of State Avenue. Shortly afterward, she came outside, hopped on her bike and sped off.
She glanced back at the house as she was riding, according to court papers. Two minutes later, smoke was rising from the home. Flames followed.
The woman stopped to watch the blaze before she headed toward the railroad tracks, detectives said. A Marysville police officer noticed more smoke in that direction.
A pile of clothes and sticks had been set on fire about 30 feet from a motor home. The woman who lives there told police she heard branches breaking and someone yelling, “Burn (expletive) burn,” and talking about money and drugs.
The motor home had flat tires and couldn’t be moved quickly, the owner said. She told police she saw a woman running and pushing her bike on a nearby trail.
Farther down the trail, a large pile of tires had been set ablaze. Firefighters also extinguished two other small fires in the area.
A witness later saw the woman near WinCo, which is down the road on 116th Street NE. He heard two women arguing. One said, “I will burn you like I did the house today,” according to court documents.
A police dog found the suspect. She initially was booked into the Marysville city jail and later moved to the county lockup. She is being held on suspicion of arson and reckless burning.
Caitlin Tompkins: 425-339-3192; ctompkins@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.