SCARBRO, WV (LOOTPRESS) — A Fayette County man is behind bars after allegedly setting fire to his girlfriend’s home early Thursday morning, just hours after a domestic violence incident at the same residence.
According to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to Fourth Street in Scarbro at around 2:15 a.m. for a reported arson. The caller told dispatchers that her boyfriend, Michael Wood, had tried to break into her bedroom window before the fire broke out.
The victim said she was reading in bed when she heard Wood attempting to pry open the window. After warning him she would call 911, she returned to reading. About 30 minutes later, she noticed an orange glow and discovered the kitchen engulfed in flames. The victim and a friend, who was staying at the home, were able to escape with a dog and call 911.
Responding deputies arrived to find heavy fire and smoke coming from the back right side of the home. Arson Investigator Cpl. Nick Hall determined the fire started outside and burned inward, causing significant damage to the kitchen and roof.
While en route to the scene, Cpl. Tyler McMillion spotted a man matching Wood’s description walking along Scarbro Road. McMillion detained Wood, who was wet, muddy, and smelled of smoke.
Investigators say the fire came just hours after deputies had responded to the same address for a domestic disturbance at around 9 p.m. Wednesday night. During that earlier incident, the victim told deputies that Wood had been intoxicated, physically assaulted her and the friend, and brandished a knife before leaving the residence. She also reported that Wood had threatened her, saying, “I’m going to burn you out, bitch.”
When interviewed at the Fayetteville Detachment, Wood denied setting the fire, claiming he had left the home after an argument and spent time at a neighbor’s house before walking toward Raleigh County. Deputies noted that he appeared intoxicated during questioning.
Wood was arrested and charged with First-Degree Arson and two counts of Attempted Murder under West Virginia Code §§61-3-1(a)(b)(1) and 61-11-8. He was transported to Southern Regional Jail in Beaver pending arraignment by a Fayette County magistrate.
