Utah Woman Intentionally Set Fire To Home With 1-Year-Old Child, Grandparents Inside

A woman in Tooele, Utah, was arrested after she intentionally set fire to her home while her toddler and her grandparents were inside.

According to court documents, police responded to a home on May 10 after receiving reports that the structure was on fire. By the time the officers arrived, the home was engulfed in flames. Witnesses were interviewed by the officers who told them that they saw 30-year-old Elizabeth Anne Ackman setting the fire.

The woman’s relative told the officers that Ackman set a mattress in the basement of the home on fire while her 1-year-old child and her grandparents were inside the residence.

In the meantime, Ackman, while repeating that she “did it,” tried to get into the locked cage portion of a patrol car. She told one of the officers that if he did not take her away, she would attack him. Moments later, the woman clenched her fists and attempted to punch the officer in the face. He immediately took her to the ground. Another officer rushed to the aid and handcuffed the accused. While being taken to jail, the accused allegedly kicked one of the officers.

She appeared in court and was charged with one count each of first-degree felony aggravated arson, misdemeanor assault on an officer, and resisting arrest. She was being held at the Tooele County Detention Center on a $100,000 bail on one count. She was scheduled to appear in court again on May 26.

The incident comes two days after a man in Memphis, Tennessee, was arrested for intentionally setting a home on fire. Firefighters responded to a home near Barron Avenue and Bradley Street and contained the blaze in less than 15 minutes. Investigation revealed the fire was intentionally set on the exterior of the home. Following this, 41-year-old Henry Madkins was arrested and charged with aggravated arson. Investigators said the home did have a working smoke alarm and the fire caused about $20,000 in damage. No one was injured in the incident and the motive behind the crime was not known.