Three teens are charged with arson in house fire
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STAFF REPORT - Published: August 28, 2009
LUDLOW — Police have charged three teenagers with arson for the May 27 fire that destroyed a Lacava Lane residence.
Lawson Austin, Nate Gritman and Nicholas Sweet — all 17 years old and all from the Ludlow area — have been cited to appear Oct. 6 in White River Junction District Court to answer arson charges, according to State Police Detective Sgt. Matthew Nally.
Two other teens — Elizabeth Plude and Dylan Stinson, both 17 and from the Ludlow area — are out of state and will be cited at a later date, police said.
Around 4 a.m. May 27, Ludlow Police received a call of a fire at 7 Lacava Lane. Firefighters from Ludlow, Mount Holly and Proctorsville responded, but the house was fully engulfed in flames and was considered a total loss, police said. There were no injuries and the house was not occupied, police said.
State police and Division of Fire Safety investigators studied the scene and determined the cause was suspicious.
Following an investigation by state and Ludlow police, police said the five teens did not have permission to be at the house, but nonetheless threw a party on the outside deck. During the party, police said, the teens started a fire in a chiminea — a portable fireplace — on the deck.
Ludlow Police Chief Jeffrey Billings referred all questions about the investigation to Nally, as did Windsor County State's Attorney Robert Sand. Nally did not return a call Thursday seeking additional comment.
Kevin Flanagan, owner of the residence, could not be reached Thursday for comment.
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