The former owners of a campground were charged Thursday with torching several buildings.
A couple from Wilkes-Barre turned themselves in on arson and other charges. State police said they torched their own property to collect the insurance money.
State police said Victor and Tammy Santarelli of Wilkes-Barre actually behind two different fires at the Shady Rest Campground in Susquehanna County. One in 2007 damaged a bath house and one last April hit the business office, which was also their residence.
The Santarellis turned themselves in Thursday in Susquehanna County and were arraigned on arson, reckless endangerment and insurance fraud charges.
According to state police, the Santarellis torched their home, which was also the rental office of the Shady Rest campground in Gibson Township in April.
In doing so, investigators said, they put firefighters and their own two foster children in danger and they did it for the insurance money.
The santarellis' defense attorney said that's just not true.
"The insurance company investigated for more than two months and they issued checks, which means that they found that the Santarellis were not guilty of arson. It was after this. These people, I don't think they really set this fire at all," said defense attorney Kevin Fitzgerald.
He wouldn't say who they contend did set the fire in April or the one that damaged the bath house a few years ago.
Victor and Tammy Santarelli are free on bail. Both are awaiting court dates in Susquehanna County next week.
A couple from Wilkes-Barre turned themselves in on arson and other charges. State police said they torched their own property to collect the insurance money.
State police said Victor and Tammy Santarelli of Wilkes-Barre actually behind two different fires at the Shady Rest Campground in Susquehanna County. One in 2007 damaged a bath house and one last April hit the business office, which was also their residence.
The Santarellis turned themselves in Thursday in Susquehanna County and were arraigned on arson, reckless endangerment and insurance fraud charges.
According to state police, the Santarellis torched their home, which was also the rental office of the Shady Rest campground in Gibson Township in April.
In doing so, investigators said, they put firefighters and their own two foster children in danger and they did it for the insurance money.
The santarellis' defense attorney said that's just not true.
"The insurance company investigated for more than two months and they issued checks, which means that they found that the Santarellis were not guilty of arson. It was after this. These people, I don't think they really set this fire at all," said defense attorney Kevin Fitzgerald.
He wouldn't say who they contend did set the fire in April or the one that damaged the bath house a few years ago.
Victor and Tammy Santarelli are free on bail. Both are awaiting court dates in Susquehanna County next week.
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