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$3K in rewards offered to find arsonist
Dan Eakin/Staff Photo - Another $1,000 in reward money was added, bringing the total to $3,000, after this sign was posted following last Thursday night's fire off Josephine Street in McKinney. Only the charred remains of what had been a house for more than 85 years still stand.
By Dan Eakin, deakin@starlocalnews.com
Rewards totaling $3,000 are being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the arsonist(s) who Thursday night set fire to a house under renovation at 512 W. Josephine St. in McKinney.
Deputy Chief Joe Ellenburg of the McKinney Police Department said the city, a state fire marshal's agency and the owner of the house that was destroyed are each offering a $1,000 reward.
Richard Pedretti-Allen purchased the house several months ago. He said the house had been condemned, and he was renovating it so it would meet city code requirements. He said that there was no electricity or plumbing in the house, and that a new foundation, front porch and other expansions were planned for it.
While that house was destroyed, homes on each side were heavily damaged to the point that they are presently inhabitable.
The couple who owns the home at 514 W. Josephine St. is staying at a local motel. A man, his pregnant wife and child who lived at 510 W. Josephine St. are staying with relatives.
Jim Kilpatrick, who was living at 514 W. Josephine St., said that he and his wife were forced to vacate their home because of severe smoke damage and broken windows, and that the outside of their home was scorched by flames.
Heat from the fire melted some of the plastic curtains inside their home. He said all of their clothing had to be professionally cleaned because the house had been filled with smoke. He and his wife hope to reoccupy the home within the next week or two.
The fire also burned a row of 30-foot-tall trees between the house that was destroyed and the Kilpatrick home.
A crowd estimated at between 400 and 500 people gathered to watch the fire Thursday night. Seven fire trucks and three ambulances responded. No injuries were reported, and the fire was extinguished in less than an hour.
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
Bill Lewis wrote on Aug 25, 2012 1:12 AM:
" did anyone look at the conditin of this house before it burned down or how long it had been sitting that way? How much you want to be homeowners insurance pays exactly what house was worth? just saying...arson reward for what? lmao... "
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