A man from Pennsylvania is accused of starting a fire in his home after a woman turned down his romantic overtures, leading to the death of an Army veteran and injuring two others, according to authorities.
Robert Zimmerman, 40, was taken into custody on Wednesday after allegedly igniting a destructive blaze in Lewiston around 11:55 p.m., as reported by the Lewiston Police Department.
Witnesses claim they saw Zimmerman at the residence he rents out to multiple tenants, expressing his feelings to a woman living in the attic.
After being rejected, Zimmerman reportedly became angry and set fire to various items on the first floor, police stated.
When first responders arrived, they encountered several frightened residents who informed them that the fire was set deliberately and that more people were trapped inside.
Brandi Phillip, 44, attempted to escape but was blocked and later found deceased, according to the Mifflin County Coroner’s Office.
A male tenant jumped from a second-floor window to flee the flames, suffering severe facial injuries. He was transported to a trauma center with burns to his throat.
Firefighters also tried to help a woman who was hanging from a window on the second floor, but she did not attempt to jump. Police suspect she may have lost consciousness from the smoke, falling onto the concrete below and incurring severe injuries.
Zimmerman reportedly acknowledged starting the fire and was later seen nearby watching the flames engulf the house. Surveillance footage confirmed witness accounts.
He was arrested on an unrelated warrant and was found to have the smell of smoke and ash on him.
Following his arrest, Zimmerman claimed to have taken fentanyl and showed signs of an overdose, prompting a hospital visit. He eventually returned to police custody, where he allegedly made several self-incriminating comments.
When informed of the fatality resulting from the fire, he reportedly reacted strongly, according to police reports.
It’s unclear whether Phillip was the woman he had initially pursued, but the coroner’s office is looking into her death as a potential homicide.
Phillip was remembered as a skilled Army veteran, particularly noted for her work with Patriot missiles, and as someone who had a rich background in culinary arts and had even attended flight attendant school. In her later years, she became a professional truck driver.
Her obituary highlighted her love for cats and her multifaceted talents.
Zimmerman has been booked into the Mifflin County Correctional Facility and faces pending charges connected to Phillip’s death, as well as for arson and the injuries from the fire.
