A Port Huron woman has been charged with assault with intent to murder and second-degree arson after a house fire was started at her and her father’s home.
A probable cause affidavit in the case file for Marquita McDowell, 42, states the Port Huron Police Department responded to her residence at around 1:42 a.m. Aug. 5 after receiving reports of a house fire. The location of the fire was redacted from court records.
Police spoke to the victim, who said he believed McDowell had started the fire. According to the probable cause affidavit, the victim told police he and McDowell had argued an hour before the fire about which shower she could use.
The victim told police he was in his bedroom when he saw smoke and flames coming from under his bedroom door, and that he escaped by jumping out the bedroom window.
The affidavit describes the victim as being “adamant” it was McDowell who started the fire, though the affidavit does not state why beyond the argument the two had. Police reportedly found McDowell outside the residence. She reportedly denied the victim’s accusation.
McDowell’s case file include a notice of insanity defense filed by Senior Assistant Public Defender Jennifer Rutkowski. The filing requests the court to order a mental health evaluation for McDowell.
Assault with intent to murder is punishable with up to life in prison. Second-degree arson is punishable with up to 20 years in prison.
McDowell is being held in the St. Clair County Jail on a $250,000 bond. A preliminary examination is scheduled for 10 a.m. Aug. 25. McDowell’s attorney and Port Huron Assistant Police Chief Jeremy Young could not be reached for comment.
Contact Johnathan Hogan at jhogan@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Port Huron woman charged with attempted murder after house fire
Reporting by Johnathan Hogan, Port Huron Times Herald / Port Huron Times Herald
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Johnathan Hogan, Port Huron Times Herald | USA TODAY Network
