A 33-year-old Kentucky woman was arrested for allegedly setting fire to a house while her mother and her mother’s boyfriend were inside, then calling 911 and telling the emergency dispatcher that they “better hurry up.” Sarah Shelburne was arrested over the weekend and charged with a number of felonies, including two counts of attempted first-degree murder and one count of first-degree arson, officials said.
According to a news release from the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office, at 9:37 p.m. on Saturday, August 16, emergency personnel responded to a house fire in the 300 block of Little Union Road in Fairfield, Kentucky, about 50 miles west of Lexington.
First responders arrived at the scene and quickly located Shelburne, who was still present.
“Shelburne, 33 years old of Fairfield, intentionally set the residence on fire after an argument with her mother,” according to the announcement. “Shelburne admitted to the fire in an attempt to kill her mother and boyfriend.”
Following the alleged confession, Shelburne is accused of assaulting one of the officers during questioning.
“Shelburne was brought to the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office and interviewed where she became belligerent and assaulted a deputy,” according to the release.
During her interview with detectives, Shelburne allegedly stated that she had been planning to set fire to the house “for most days,” according to court records. When asked why she wanted to set fire to the house, she allegedly told police that she “wanted to kill them,” referring to her mother and her mother’s boyfriend.
Nelson County Sheriff Ramon Pineiroa reportedly told Louisville, Kentucky CBS affiliate WLKY that Shelburne admitted to starting the fire during the 911 call.
“We heard in the background, from the dispatch call, ‘Better hurry up. “Come here because I’m setting the house on fire and using rubbing alcohol,” he told the station.
Shelburne allegedly became angry during the police interview and threatened to knock the teeth out of the deputy who was questioning her, as well as spitting on him.
“There are times when she performs exceptionally well and times when she does not. And I guess she was just having a bad night and acted on impulse, doing things she shouldn’t have done.” Pineiroa spoke to WLKY.
Shelburne was taken to the Nelson County Correctional Center for processing.
She appeared in court for her arraignment on Tuesday, and a judge ordered her to remain in detention at the Nelson County Correctional Center in lieu of a $1 million bond.
