Reward Up To $25,000 For Eastern Shore Arson Info

ACCOMACK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE INCREASES REWARD FOR TIPS ON ARSONS

The Accomack County Sheriff’s Office is putting forth funds to increase the reward related to the Accomack County arsons. As of Thursday, persons coming forward with information that leads to an arrest and conviction in these cases could be eligible for a reward of up to $25,000.

To notify the Eastern Shore community about the reward increase and a new Accomack County Arson Tip Line number, state police and the sheriff’s office are also distributing and posting new printed fliers throughout the Eastern Shore. Anyone with information about the arsons and/or individual(s) responsible is encouraged to contact law enforcement via a new Tip Line dedicated to these investigations. Text, call or email at 757-655-1437.

“The sheriff’s office and state police have received an overwhelming response from the public with tips and information, but there are still residents out there who know something about the persons involved in setting the fires,” Accomack County Sheriff Todd Godwin said. “I hope the increase in the reward will help persuade these residents to now come forward. These fires must be stopped – for the safety of our property owners, for the safety of our volunteer firefighters, and for the safety and wellbeing of our close-knit community.”

From Nov. 12, 2012, through Feb. 11, 2012, there have been 48 structure and debris fires intentionally set in Accomack County. On Feb. 13, 2013, it was discovered that someone tried to burn down the Leatherbury United Methodist Church in Onancock, Va. The church building suffered only minor damage. No one, to date, has been injured in any of the arsons.

“As we have stated before, state police are aggressively pursuing all leads related to these arsons,” Capt. T.A. Reibel, Commander of the BCI Chesapeake Field Office. “We are also confident, based on the evidence collected at the scenes, that the majority of the arsons are the work of a collaboration of individuals. The information needed to put a stop to these fires and effect an arrest is out there – we just need the right people to text us, call us or email us with what they know.”

Initially, a $5,000 reward was made available through the International Association of Arson Investigators (http://www.vaiaai.com/). The Sheriff’s Office is allocating the additional $20,000.