Fairfield, KY – A 33-year-old Kentucky woman has been arrested after allegedly setting her house ablaze while her mother and her mother’s boyfriend were inside. Sarah Shelburne faces multiple felony charges, including two counts of attempted first-degree murder and one count of first-degree arson, according to authorities.
Fire Set After Argument
Emergency personnel responded to the fire at a home in the 300 block of Little Union Road in Fairfield, Kentucky, around 9:37 p.m. on Saturday, August 16, roughly 50 miles west of Lexington.
According to the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office, Shelburne admitted to setting the fire intentionally following an argument with her mother, stating that it was an attempt to kill her mother and her mother’s boyfriend.
911 Call Reveals Confession
During the 911 call, Shelburne allegedly told the dispatcher, “Better hurry up. Come here because I’m lighting the house on fire and using rubbing alcohol,” confirming the premeditated nature of the crime, according to Nelson County Sheriff Ramon Pineiroa, speaking to WLKY Louisville.
Behavior During Police Interview
During questioning at the sheriff’s office, Shelburne reportedly became belligerent, assaulting a deputy and making threats while being interviewed. Court documents cited by the Lexington Herald Leader indicate that Shelburne had contemplated setting the house on fire for days and admitted her intent to kill her mother and her mother’s boyfriend.
Sheriff Pineiroa told WLKY, “There’s times that she does really good and there’s times that she don’t. And I guess that night, she just was having a bad time and acted on impulse and did things that you shouldn’t be doing.”
Arrest and Arraignment
Shelburne was transported to the Nelson County Correctional Center and arraigned on Tuesday. A judge ordered her to remain in detention with a $1 million bond set, reflecting the severity of the alleged crimes.
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