Site last updated: Friday, March 29, 2024

Log In

Reset Password
MENU
Butler County's great daily newspaper

Woman charged with burning down own home

Jody Meade

SOUTH BUFFALO TWP, Armstrong County — A woman is jailed on charges she set her own family’s house on fire.

Jody Lynn Meade, 52, was alone Saturday afternoon when she allegedly ignited the blaze that destroyed the two-story, wood -frame home at 413 Short St. in South Buffalo Township, authorities said. No one was hurt.

Earlier in the day, township police had been called to the home for a domestic dispute, investigators said.

Within the past year, officers had showed up at the same home for other incidents as well.

It didn’t take long for the state police fire marshal to determine the fire was deliberately set. Soon after that ruling, township police arrested Meade.

By 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Meade was arraigned on first- and second-degree felony counts of arson and a felony charge of criminal mischief. She remains in the Armstrong County Jail on $100,000 bail.

The fire call came in at 3:30 p.m. but because of the previous incidents, firefighters had to wait for police to get there first and make sure it was safe for emergency crews to go in.

While his crews waited on nearby Ford City Road, Chief Randy Brozenick of the South Buffalo Township Fire Department could see smoke coming from the house.

“It was a good knock down,” Brozenick said. “The house is still standing.”

However, it is uninhabitable and all its contents were burned up.

“In my opinion, it’s a total loss,” Brozenick said.

Meade lived at the house with her husband and the couple’s children.

Only 30 minutes or so before the fire call, police had been to the Meade house for a disturbance primarily involving Meade and her father-in-law.

The dispute ended when Meade’s husband, father and at least one of his children left with officers.

Jody Meade was the only person believed to be at the home when the fire broke out, authorities said.

Brozenick said investigators found four different points of origin, indicating the fire was no accident.

Fire officials estimated the damage at $100,000.

More in Digital Media Exclusive

Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter

* indicates required
TODAY'S PHOTOS