MOORHEAD - A Moorhead woman faces a felony charge of first-degree arson after allegedly telling authorities that she started her house on fire last month because her ex-boyfriend would not come home.
Constance Gail Thompson, 64, is accused of starting the fire with a large can of motor oil in front of the TV in her living room, according to court documents filed Tuesday, April 3, in Clay County District Court.
Police officers were dispatched to Thompson's home, 1924 29th St. Circle S., about 9 p.m. March 19. Thompson had told 911 dispatchers that she started her house on fire because her boyfriend, who she'd broken up with about six weeks before, would not come home, according to court documents.
The first officer who arrived saw thick, black smoke coming from the front window and found Thompson, who told the officer she had set the fire so her ex-boyfriend could not get the house. She then told the officer she was injured, and she was taken to Sanford Medical Center in Fargo for treatment of injuries that were not life-threatening, court documents said.
After Thompson was treated, she told police she had been drinking heavily on March 19 and talked to her ex. After the call, she went into the garage and grabbed a large can of oil and started it on fire in the living room. She told police she intended to "go down with the house," according to court documents.
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At some point, Thompson slipped in the oil and was burned. She told police she tried to put the flames out when they became intense, court documents said.
When firefighters arrived, they quickly extinguished the blaze, which had caused significant smoke damage to the home and left black soot on the ceiling, floor and walls of the living room, court documents said.
A detective learned from the ex-boyfriend that he and Thompson bought the house together six or seven years before. He said after he and Thompson talked that night, she sent him messages that said she would be burning down the house, court documents said.
Thompson's bail was set at $20,000 cash or bond without conditions for release, or $5,000 cash or bond with conditions. She remained in the Clay County Jail as of Tuesday evening, jail staff said.
