Virginia Arsons: Male suspect used rag to set Eastern Shore fire, court documents say
(CBS/AP) ACCOMAC, Va. - A man who confessed to an arson fire on the Eastern Shore of Virginia used a rag from his auto shop to ignite the abandoned home, according to court documents released Thursday.
Charles Smith and his girlfriend, Tonya Bundick, were charged with arson and conspiracy to commit arson. State police said the couple is responsible for all but a handful of the 77 arsons set on the Eastern Shore since November 2012. Additional charges are expected.
All the fires were set in or near abandoned or unoccupied commercial and residential buildings, and no injuries were reported.
Smith is a former volunteer firefighter who owns an auto body shop in the Tasley community. According to search warrants, Smith told authorities he tore a piece from a towel in his shop to light the fire. The warrants said police watched him set the latest fire.