Three Arrested In Arson Plot To Claim Insurance Money

July 25--Three people have been arrested for their role in a fire at a Chatsworth home as part of an insurance scam to collect money, officials said.

Tonya Kim Avans, 37, of 1020 Miller Grove Road, Dalton; Michael Kevin Smalley, 25, of 4057 Keith Valley Road, Cohutta; and Jessica Nicole Vinyard, 27, of 304 Short St., Niota, Tenn., were charged by the Murray County Sheriff's Office with arson in the first degree.

Deputies are looking for a fourth suspect also believed to be involved.

A sheriff's office incident report stated that Vinyard came to the sheriff's office with her parents on May 28 and told deputies about her involvement in burning down Avans' house at 144 Heatherly Lane in Chatsworth for insurance purposes.

Vinyard said that on Oct. 3, 2012, Avans bought rubbing alcohol and the two poured it throughout the house and set a fire. An insurance claim was made with State Farm and Vinyard admitted to receiving some of the money.

According to the report, Vinyard told deputies that Avans previously set fire to a home in Alabama in order to claim the insurance money on it.

Vinyard was arrested on May 30 and released on a $7,500 bond on June 2.

Police arrested Avans on June 3 and she made bond on June 5 of $15,000.

Smalley was arrested on Wednesday. According to the Murray County jail, he was denied bond.

Detective Tim Bell declined to provide details on Smalley's involvement or the fourth suspect since the case is still under investigation. The incident report lists Johnny Maurice Gray, 59, of 1065 Valley Way, Tunnel Hill, as the fourth suspect.

State Farm spokesman Justin Tomczak said he could not comment on how much money was received from the claim due to privacy laws, but did say that in situations like this State Farm conducts its own internal investigation before turning the matter over to law enforcement.

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