UPDATE on Friday, October 10th
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- The woman charged with setting the fire that destroyed her ex-husbands million dollar home was in court this morning.
Deborah L. Smith was arraigned on arson, insurance fraud and domestic battery charges.
A grand jury indicted Smith on the charges earlier this week.
A fire on January 31 destroyed the home of Smith’s ex-husband Rick Keaton. The house was located at #7 Nichols Drive in Barboursville.
During this morning’s arraignment in Cabell County Circuit Court, Smith pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Judge Dan O’Hanlon set her bond at $50,000. He trial was set for December 15.
Original Story
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A Barboursville woman has been indicted for allegedly starting a fire that destroyed a million dollar house in Barboursville.
A Cabell County Grand Jury indicted Deborah L. Smith on 1st degree arson, 3rd degree arson, burned insured property, insurance fraud and domestic battery charges.
A fire on January 31 destroyed the home of her ex-husband, Rick Keaton at #7 Nichols Drive.
Early in the investigation, detectives said they were looking into a connection between the fire and a domestic violence incident before it started.
WSAZ.com reported at the time that the initial police report said that after firefighters and police arrived on the scene, Smith was found intoxicated in an irrational state with cuts on her hands.
In that report, Keaton told deputies his ex-wife showed up, threatened him, and attacked him. He says he was bitten and struck with a lamp, and that she smashed out the driver's side window and tried to climb in.
Investigators say Keaton fled, and they tracked a trail of blood left by his ex-wife to two nearby homes.
Police told us both Keaton and Smith were cut and bruised.
Smith is scheduled to be arragined on the charges Friday morning.