A Michigan man drove over 700 miles to set fire to a house in southeastern Pennsylvania and a man who had an online relationship with his ex-girlfriend, police said. Inferno nearly killed six people, and two family dogs died.
Harrison Jones, 21, from Rockford, Michigan, is charged with six counts of attempted criminal murder, arson, dangerous catastrophe and related crimes.
“As the suspicious vehicle escaped the area, smoke could be seen swirling from the backyard of the house, and within 30 seconds a massive explosion was observed, causing the house to be engulfed in flames.”
At about 5:22am on February 10th, Benthalem Township Police and the Benthalem Volunteer Fire Station responded to the fire in their two-storey home. Benthalem is about 30 minutes northeast of Philadelphia.
Six adults were forced to escape from the burning house. Some of them had to jump out of the second floor window to escape the fire. All six residents were injured and taken to a nearby hospital.
Two family dogs died in the fire.
Police said the fire caused “complete losses” of the home.
“It's a miracle that they all survived,” says William McVay, director of Benthalem Public Safety. I said During a press conference on Monday. “And we are praised by the mother of the house for taking the actions she did to protect her family and ensure that they are all alive.”
Authorities have launched an investigation into a fire that was considered “intrinsically intentionally set and incitement.”
The detective obtained surveillance footage from cameras at a nearby residence.
The Bensalem Police Station statement: “Subject leaves the vehicle with an object and walks towards the residence. After about 15 minutes, the subject appears to run back to his waiting car and leave the area.” Port on Mallard Drive I'm heading for a side drive.
“When a suspicious vehicle escaped from the area, smoke could be seen swirling from the backyard of the house, and within 30 seconds a massive explosion was observed, causing the house to be engulfed in flames,” police said. .
Investigators used crossing surveillance cameras to identify the 2021 Black Volkswagen Passat, a suspicious black sedan. An automated license plate reader revealed that the vehicle is registered with Michigan.
In an interview with residents of the destroyed home, they discovered that the 21-year-old man had an online relationship with a Michigan woman. The man told the detective that the woman was supposed to come to Benthalem to meet in person this month.
Citation court documents, WTXF-TV Jones reported that he was supposed to drive his ex-girlfriend to meet a Pennsylvania man. However, investigators said Jones drove the car to Benthalem on his own with “intention to murder.”
Harrison JonesImage source: Kent County (Michigan) Sheriff's Office
Detectives from the Bensalem Police Department contacted the Kent County Sheriff's Office and officers in Michigan, and later obtained a search warrant for the local residence.
Police said they would stand up to Jones – he “had something that looked like a burn on his arm.” The residence reportedly had a 2021 Black Volkswagen Passat.
Investigators said Jones was the ex-boyfriend of a Michigan woman who was talking to a Pennsylvania man.
The Kent County Sheriff's Department arrested Jones on February 12th. Prison Records.
Jones is currently waiting for his extradition to Pennsylvania.
Bensalem Police Station I said Jones said that “she traveled over 700 miles and 11 hours each way to commit the crime that killed six people.” Police dubbed Jones' allegedly acting “heinous conduct.” .
“This is the family's worst nightmare sleeping in their homes, and they don't know that strangers have broken into their homes, burning their homes and making their lives apart,” Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Sean said. I tried to take it. A loss.
You can view video reports here About fire.
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