Hunter
06/05/25
An Oelwein woman is in custody after she allegedly admitted setting fire to her home, burning it and two nearby homes to the ground.
The Gazette reports 50-year-old Jeannie Murphy is charged with two counts of first-degree arson and one count of second-degree arson after police say she started a fire at her residence on 316 First Ave. NE at about 2 a.m. Tuesday.
The fire spread to two neighboring houses: 16 Fourth St. NE and 314 First Ave. NE.
Murphy was previously charged with domestic abuse assault in 2023 after allegedly attacking a man in her house with what she believed was homemade acid. Five days after that incident, dhe was charged with attempted murder and assault on persons in certain occupations after she reportedly attacked an officer who was trying to move her to a different cell at the Fayette County Jail.
Murphy reached a plea deal where the attempted murder charge was dropped, and she got a year’s probation on domestic abuse and assault on persons in certain occupations charges.