A Maryland woman reportedly caused millions of dollars in damage and displaced more than 130 people when she allegedly set an apartment building on fire to get back at her now-ex-boyfriend.
WUSA reported that Prince George’s County firefighters responded to Hilltop Apartments on September 17 following reports of a fire. It took firefighters more than two hours to extinguish the flames engulfing the three-story building.
The suspected culprit, Natasha Ciara Joyner, 32, was charged with first-degree arson, second-degree arson, first-degree malicious burning, malicious destruction of property, and reckless endangerment. She has since confessed to lighting some bedsheets ablaze because she was upset at her now-ex-boyfriend, according to The Washington Post.
The newspaper reported that Joyner originally claimed she had left her apartment on the morning in question but investigators determined that she was at the scene before and after the fire that resulted in $2.2 million in damage.
Joyner’s attorney revealed during Friday’s bail review hearing that his client was in a toxic relationship and was subjected to abuse, according to The Post.
Joyner remains jailed. Authorities indicated that additional charges are forthcoming.
[Featured Image: Natasha Ciara Joyner/Police handout]