Police: Tenant set Mount Carmel fire

June 30--MOUNT CARMEL -- The tenant of a double-home damaged by fire Friday night was charged Monday with arson and related offenses for allegedly setting the fire because she was being evicted.

Susan G. Stanley, 64, of 327 N. Maple St., was imprisoned on $100,000 bail after her arraignment on 10 counts related to the 8:30 p.m. basement fire that also damaged a neighboring home.

Stanley allegedly admitted to police she was the one who set the fire on the last day she was allowed in the house, where she had lived for 15 years. She told police she splashed gasoline around the basement, lit a rag on fire and left.

Police also reported Stanley had allegedly offered to pay someone $5,000 to set the fire, but the person didn't carry out the plan, and that three months ago, she purchased renters insurance for the first time.

Firefighters were alerted to the emergency when Eddie Agosto-Viera and his wife, Luz Santiago, of 325 N. Maple St. -- the other half of the double home, smelled smoke and called 911. Crews prevented flames from spreading beyond a stairwell leading to the first floor of Stanley's house.

Bought gas June 21

Mount Carmel Borough Police Lt. Christopher Buhay, the investigating officer, said Stanley admitted in an interview she didn't want to move, but that she was in a dispute with landlord Matteo Loduca, of Danville, over financial matters and had to move.

Stanley said she purchased a gallon of gasoline Sunday, June 21, in anticipation of setting the blaze. After debating the decision, she decided to ignite the fire Friday, the last day she could be in the house.

That day, Stanley told police, she moved possessions she wanted from the residence and kept the rest there. She dumped small amounts of gasoline into a cup and splashed it around the basement, then retrieved a wooden stick and wrapped a rag around one end.

Stanley ignited the rag and placed it in the basement, then went to a nearby convenience store and picnic.

Endangering others

Investigators determined the fire started in the basement and that a large pile of household items and collectable items for yard sale were found in cardboard and plastic containers, along with the gas can with a gallon of gas in it. They did not find the rag and stick.

A state police fire marshal ruled the blaze arson.

Stanley attempted to cover her face when she arrived at Magisterial District Judge Hugh A. Jones's office Monday for her arraignment. Buhay charged her with two felony counts of arson-endangering persons, three felony counts of arson-endangering property, felony counts of arson-reckless burning and causing a catastrophe, and misdemeanor charges of possessing an instrument of crime and recklessly endangering another person.

A preliminary hearing is set for July 8 before Jones.

There were no landlord-tenant complaints filed between the two parties, according to a search of the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System's website. Loduca could not be reached for comment.

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