Couple ordered to pay more than $62K back to insurance company

SUNBURY - A Dornsife couple were sentenced Monday to 12 months' probation and ordered to pay $62,537.48 to Erie Insurance plus fines, fees and costs for a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct after being accused of burning down a home for financial gain.

Dustin Letterman, 33, and Marissa Letterman, 30, were originally charged with two counts of arson with danger of death or bodily injury, two counts of arson with intent to collect insurance, two counts of false insurance claims and recklessly endangering another person.

Those charges were not prosecuted.

Charges were filed on June 27, 2019, and relate to a Sept. 17, 2017, incident in Jackson Township.

According to a 2019 criminal complaint, the Lettermans originally said that they took a drive with their two children around 9:30 p.m. They drove to Sunoco and went home around 11 p.m., at which time Dustin went into the garage, got a gallon of paint and took it to a friend's house with his family. When they returned to the house, Dustin said he observed smoke coming from the eves of the house and the garage door and called 911.

State police Fire Marshal Kirk Renn interviewed the Lettermans both together and separately.

Dustin said that he thought the fire was an arson and said that "someone lit it." He also said that the fire was not an accident. Marissa said that they were behind on bills.

Renn received joint credit history for the Lettermans that indicated at the time of the fire they were $17,141 past due on credited payments.

On Aug. 16, 2018, Renn interviewed Dustin's mother, who said that Dustin told her he set the garage fire and Marissa set the one in the bathroom.

Renn interviewed William Bender on May 24, 2019. Bender owned the house that the Lettermans went to on the night of the fire. Bender said that Dustin was nervous, and when a car passed he said that he thought his house might be on fire.

Bender also said that after the fire, Dustin told Bender he burnt his house down because he needed money.

Erie Insurance Co. paid a total of $62,537.48 for the Letterman's claim, which the couple was ordered by the court to pay back.