July 22, 1973

Arson suspects to be charged with shop fire

       A man and woman from Indianapolis will be charged with arson next week for allegedly setting the fire which caused an estimated $7,500 damage to a Greenwood area beauty salon earlier this month, The Daily Journal learned Friday. The two are currently being held in Marion county jail in Indianapolis on second degree burglary charges in relation to an incident there. Lieutenant John Lasiter of the Johnson county sheriff's department said Friday that questioning of another Marion county jail inmate who is reported to be an acquaintance of the pair led to their implication in the Johnson county fire. Lasiter indicated the man and woman would be brought to Johnson county sometime next week and will face arraignment for second degree arson, possibly Thursday in Franklin City Court. The pair are alleged to have set the fire to the Town and Country Beauty Salon on State Road 135 near Smith Valley road. The fire, which burned out without being seen or reported by passerby, did extensive damage to the inside of the beauty shop in the early morning hours of Sunday, July 8. According to a sheriff's department report on the incident, a concrete block was apparently hurled through the shop's plate glass front window. Investigators found evidence that jars of gasoline were tossed into the shop. A burned-out road flare was also found inside. The Town and Country Beauty Salon is owned and operated by Margo and David Penn of 9002 Tree Top Lane, Greenwood. A conviction for second degree arson carries a five-to-ten year prison sentence, Lieutenant Lasiter said.  See related story and photo  HERE.  (Reprinted with permission of the Daily Journal)

 

---