L-W woman charged with burning home
Published 10:32 am Thursday, July 13, 2017
LEWISTON-WOODVILLE – Following a two-month investigation, a local woman has been arrested for allegedly setting fire to her residence.
Misty Dawn Hernandez, age 52 of Lewiston-Woodville, stands charged with fraudulently burning a dwelling, and insurance fraud. She was arrested on Thursday of last week.
Bond was set at $5,000 secured and Hernandez was scheduled to make her first appearance in Bertie County District Court yesterday (Wednesday).
Bertie County Sheriff John Holley stated that Hernandez called 911 Communications at 1:48 a.m. on May 6 to report her home, located at 211 Cashie Street in Lewiston-Woodville, was on fire. The Lewiston-Woodville Fire Department responded.
“The home was a total loss,” Holley said.
Afterwards, apparently in the wake of Hernandez contacting her insurance company to file a claim, Holley said that firm sent a representative to investigate.
Meanwhile, the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office and the North Carolina SBI were conducting an investigation into the cause of the blaze.
“Both the SBI and the insurance company’s investigator came to the conclusion that the fire was intentionally set,” Holley said.
The Sheriff added that accelerants were found inside the home, which were linked to how the fire started.