6/3 UPDATE: Susan Davidson was bailed out of jail around 6p.m. Saturday. Eyewitness News spoke to Davidson's husband Sunday morning, who said his wife is wearing an electronic monitoring device that tracks her movements 24 hours a day. Davidson was in court Friday morning for a bond hearing. A judge denied lowering her $200,000 bond.
6/2 UPDATE:Susan Davidson, the woman accused of setting a series of fires in the Dilworth area claims she was taking a prescription sleep aid and does not remember igniting the blazes. At a bond hearing today, Davidson’s lawyer told the judge that she had been taking Ambien for two years and has no recollection of committing arson.
Davidson's attorney said he thinks she may have been committing the crimes in her sleep which could be a possible defense in her upcoming trial.
5/19- UPDATE:
It was a woman! Police have arrested Susan Elaine Davidson and charged her with two felony counts of first degree arson & burning. Police and fire investigators believe she is responsible for a series of fires that were set in Charlotte’s Dilworth community. Police said she set fires at four homes on Dorothy Drive located at 633, 617, 613 and an empty house at 612 Dorothy Drive.
A grass fire set at 613 Dorothy Drive also happens to be Davidson's address. Police said Davidson is a suspect in several other fires in Dilworth, which date back to December of 2005. Those fires include the latest fire, which was set Thursday, on Olmsted Drive near Dilworth.
Davidson was taken into custody at the Mecklenburg County Jail. Her bond has not been set at this time. Neighbors told 6NEWS Davidson is the mother of two children who are less than 4-years-old.
Sources:
WSOC- VIDEO
WCNC- VIDEO
News 14 Carolina- VIDEO
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5/18/06- Who is the Dilworth Arsonist?Some people in the Dilworth area will tell you the arsonist may be a woman. Some have seen a woman leaving the scene of the fires. She is described as in her late teens or early 20's with light or blond colored hair. Whomever the arsonist is- they are still on the loose!
Firefighters were called to 538 Olmstead Park Place around 1 am this morning. The fire was intentionally set on the back steps to the home, investigators said. The fire caused about $5,000 in damage. Captain Rob Brisley of the Charlotte Fire Department confirmed the fire is connected to nearly a dozen other arson cases in the Dilworth area.
Authorities including the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police, Charlotte Fire Department, SBI and ATF are looking for the person who is setting the fires. Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers at 704-334-1600. Articles: WCNC, WBTV