A Pennsylvania man has been arrested after he allegedly set a woman’s house on fire after she rejected his romantic advances, killing her in the process.
The Lewistown Police Department said in a statement on Friday, May 8, that Robert Zimmerman was arrested on an outstanding warrant over a fatal arson.
Zimmerman, 40, was taken into custody after firefighters were called to a home to control a house fire around 11:55 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, according to Law & Crime. The property owner had subleased the house to several people, including current tenant Brandy Phillippe.
Phillippe, 44, did not survive the fire, according to WGAL.
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“Preliminary investigation has determined Ms. Phillippe attempted to flee the residence during the fire but was unable to escape,” the Mifflin County Coroner’s Office said in a statement released Friday, May 8, per the outlet. “She was pronounced dead at the scene.”
When officers arrived at the scene of the fire, several witnesses reported that the fire had been started intentionally and that a handful of people were stuck inside the burning home.
In addition to Phillippe, law enforcement confirmed that two other residents were harmed as a result of the fire.
One man inside of the home jumped from a second-floor window and suffered significant injuries to his face, as well as internal burns to his throat. Meanwhile, a second woman fell onto the sidewalk after she tried to escape from a second-floor window.
Witnesses told police that they saw Zimmerman at the home just moments before the fire started. Zimmerman allegedly professed his love for one of the women who lived in the residence, according to WHP.
Amid the investigation into the matter, authorities grew to believe that Zimmerman was despondent after he was rejected by the woman and started setting items on the first floor of the home on fire.
Witnesses reportedly told police that Zimmerman admitted to starting the fire and he even watched the house burn from a nearby alleyway. Law enforcement added that the witness’s statements were corroborated by surveillance footage.
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Zimmerman was arrested at a boarding house on East Third Street, with arresting officers stating that he smelled of ash and smoke. Authorities also noted that he showed signs of an overdose and was taken to a nearby hospital. He was cleared hours later and then was taken to the police station for questioning.
“Zimmerman claimed that he could not recall any details at the exact time the fire started but was able to make several statements about events immediately before and after the fire started,” the police department said in a statement. “Zimmerman was informed that an occupant of the residence died as a result of the fire and he had a strong emotional response to this.”
He has not yet been handed formal charges, though police said Zimmerman will be charged soon. It is not currently clear if Zimmerman has retained legal counsel following his arrest.
The Lewistown Police Department did not immediately respond to Us Weekly’s request for comment regarding updates in the case.
