Court documents in the arrest of a former firefighter in the Virginia Eastern Shore arsons say he confessed to setting the latest blaze in Accomack County using a rag from his auto shop to light the abandoned home on fire.
38 year-old Charles Smith and his girlfriend 40 year old Tonya Bundick have been charged with arson and conspiracy to commit arson in Monday night’s fire in Melfa.
The Salisbury Daily Times reports that state police were conducting surveillance outside the latest home that was set on fire in Melfa on Monday night.
The paper reports that after seeing a minivan stop in the roadway, they heard a vehicle door slam and could see someone run from the vehicle toward the back of the house.
The Daily Time reports that the warrants say police saw a flicker from a match or lighter in the back of the house, and then noticed a fire start at the rear Door of the home where the person was standing.
In addition, the paper says that the warrants say Smith admitted to Accomack County Sbheriff Todd Godwin that he started the fire and told him that Bundick was the one who dropped him off and picked him up.
Meanwhile, WBOC reports that Virginia State Police say the Parksley couple is responsible for all but a handful of the 77 arson that have been set Accomack County since mid-November.
Police say they expect additional charges to be filed.
Smith was a former volunteer firefighter and owns an auto body shop in the Tasley community.
