SC Arson Hotline Tip Solves Great Falls Arson Case

A tip to the South Carolina Arson Hotline helped solve a Great Falls home arson and led to a reward for the caller today.

By: Press Release | News Channel 7
Published: October 15, 2009

Columbia, SC – October 15, 2009 - A tip to the South Carolina Arson Hotline (1-800-92-ARSON) helped solve a Great Falls home arson and led to a reward for the caller today.

According to investigators, the arson of two homes at 5901 and 5919 Richburg Road in Great Falls on October 4, 2007 resulted in approximately $30,000 in damage.

Information provided by Kimberly Carter through the South Carolina Arson Hotline to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division helped lead to the arrests of Tera Minors, Dawn Neely and Amy Sheppard. The arsonists were originally charged with Arson in the Second Degree in Chester County General Sessions Court. On August 10, 2009, they plead to Arson in the Third Degree and were given suspended three year sentences with five years’ probation by the Honorable Brooks Goldsmith. The three defendants were also ordered to pay court costs and restitution.

Kimberly Carter received a $1,000 reward today from the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of South Carolina (IIABSC), who fund the South Carolina Arson Hotline rewards. Frank Sheppard of IIABSC said, “Arson is a serious crime in South Carolina which increases the cost of insurance to everyone who buys insurance. The Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of South Carolina are pleased to have been a sponsor of the South Carolina Arson Hotline rewards for 27 years to help catch arsonists.”

Carter received an additional $1,000 reward from South Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance, the insurer of the two burned properties. Ms. Carter said, “It was the right thing to do. I didn’t want to see someone else go to prison for something they didn’t do.”

Allison Dean Love, executive director of the South Carolina Insurance News Service said, “Ms. Carter set a wonderful example by encouraging others to do the right thing and call the South Carolina Arson Hotline.” Callers to the South Carolina Arson Hotline can remain anonymous.

Additional facts about arson and the South Carolina Arson Hotline are available in the Resource Center of the South Carolina Insurance News Service’s Web site at www.scinsurance.net.