MEDIA RELEASE - State Fire Marshals Arrest Four People on Arson Charges

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Investigators from the West Virginia State Fire Marshal's Office have arrested four Taylor County residents for their involvement in a July fire that destroyed a mobile home in the Thornton area of Taylor County.

 

Arrest warrants were issued for Walter Hagan Thomas, Robert "Bobby” Wayne Clemens, Christopher Lee Shroyer and his wife Amanda Deavers in connection with a fire that occurred on July 28, 2016. The four are accused of conspiring in June 2016 to obtain insurance proceeds for a home at 148 Bent Ridge Rd. in Thornton.

 

After several months of investigation, the Fire Marshal’s Office learned that Clemens was paid $3,500 to burn the home, which was occupied by Shroyer and Deavers.  The couple was purchasing the home from Thomas, 87, who conspired to burn the mobile home so that they could collect the insurance money. The mobile home had insurance coverage exceeding $100,000 at the time of the fire.