Woman Gets 15 Years in Prison for Arson

(Columbia, South Carolina) A 43-year-old local mother-of-two, Kimberly Wooten, pleaded guilty last month to burning down four homes in her neighborhood and damaging several others.

Wooten, likely wearing a wig, drove around her neighborhood, setting small fires in pine straw, grass or other vegetation, usually late in the morning or afternoon, prosecutor Robert Elam said. The last was set as she walked her dog.

All but one were put out quickly, causing minimal damage. But on March 22, 2006, Wooten set a fire that quickly spread, burning down four houses. No one was injured.

As a result of her guilty plea, Wooten was sentenced to 15 years in prison this week. With credit for time served, she will only have to serve 13 years. She will be eligible for parole after serving 11.

Wooten apologized in a prepared statement read by her lawyer but failed to explain why she set the fires. According to psychiatrist Dr. Donna Schwartz-Watts, she has mental issues. Notably, Wooten was accused of setting a series of fires in a different jurisdiction more than a decade ago but her record was cleansed after she completed a diversion program.

Apparently, whenever Wooten gets stressed out, she becomes a firebug.

Tip: SuidaeEmpathy