A woman from New Jersey is accused of burning a man’s house after he invited her over for late-night sex, then fell asleep and did not hear her at his door.
Taija Russell, 29, was arrested earlier this month in connection with a fire that destroyed a home earlier this month according to Woodbury police.
Police then accused Russell of sending series of angry texts to the sleeping resident, then purchasing lighter fluid, matches and a lighter at a gas station around 4 a.m. on August 4th.
The victim awoke around 4:30 a.m. to find flames blocking the exit from his smoke-filled residence. He left by physically removing a window frame and climbing through the opening according to police.
Police then accused Russell of sending series of angry texts to the sleeping resident, then purchasing lighter fluid, matches and a lighter at a gas station around 4 a.m. on August 4th.
She is accused of setting a fire outside the sole doorway to the man’s home, then fleeing as the flames spread, according to a probable cause statement for her arrest.
The man was described as “covered head to toe in soot and ash” while dawning only a T-shirt, then ran around two-tenths of a mile to the Woodbury’s police station.
He then “frantically” announced that his residence was burning and then ran back to his home.
The victim was taken to a hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation and first- and second-degree burns.
Woodbury firefighters and surrounding towns responded to the fires, saving the man’s dog.
“The residence and its contents were completely destroyed,” says the probable cause statement, noting the fire was determined to be an arson.
Police then found texts sent by Russell to the victim, which included: “I see you wanna die” and “You wasted my money to come out here.”
The victim’s phone revealed eight missed calls.
The man revealed to the police that he invited Russell to his home and stated that she was a ‘side chick’ whom he had been having a sexual relationship with,” it adds.
Video surveillance showed the woman outside the man’s house “just prior to the fire” and making a purchase at a Conoco station on Mantua Pike according to police.
Russell is currently being held on charges of attempted murder, aggravated arson, endangering and criminal mischief. This is the second time this year a woman was accused of setting fire to a man’s home in Woodbury.