A Kentucky woman is behind bars after allegedly setting fire to a home with her mother and her mother’s boyfriend still inside. Authorities say she later admitted she wanted to kill them.
The Arrest
Sarah Shelburne, 33, of Fairfield, Kentucky, was arrested over the weekend and charged with:
Two counts of attempted first-degree murder
One count of first-degree arson
Assaulting a police officer
She is currently being held at the Nelson County Correctional Center on a $1 million bond.
Fire and 911 Call
According to the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office, emergency crews responded around 9:37 p.m. on Saturday, August 16, to a house fire on Little Union Road in Fairfield, about 50 miles west of Lexington.
At the scene, Shelburne was still present. Deputies say she confessed to starting the fire after an argument with her mother.
Sheriff Ramon Pineiroa later revealed that during the 911 call, Shelburne could be heard saying:
“Better hurry up. Come here because I’m lighting the house on fire and using rubbing alcohol.”
Confession and Motive
Court documents cited by the Lexington Herald Leader say Shelburne admitted she had been thinking about setting the fire “for most days.” When asked why, she allegedly told investigators she wanted to kill her mother and her mother’s boyfriend.
Attack on Deputies
After her arrest, Shelburne was interviewed at the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office. During questioning, she allegedly became aggressive, spit on a deputy, and threatened to knock out his teeth.
Sheriff’s Comments
Sheriff Pineiroa told local media that Shelburne’s behavior has been unpredictable:
“There’s times that she does really good and there’s times that she don’t. And I guess that night, she just was having a bad time and acted on impulse and did things that you shouldn’t be doing.”
Court Hearing
Shelburne appeared in court for her arraignment on Tuesday, where a judge ordered her continued detention on a $1 million bond.
The case of Sarah Shelburne is a disturbing example of how family disputes can escalate into dangerous violence. What began as an argument reportedly turned into an attempted double murder and arson, leaving her family shaken and the community in shock.
With serious charges against her, Shelburne now faces a long legal battle from inside jail.
