Jennings County, In. — Two 18-year-olds and a juvenile were arrested following a joint investigation into recent arson cases in Jennings County.
Taylor S. Corya, 18, and Tristan McDonald, 18, were arrested on Saturday, January 5, for felony arson, burglary and theft. A 17-year-old male also was arrested and charged with arson and burglary.
The Indiana State Fire Marshal’s office investigated a string of recent vacant house fires in 2018 and determined the cases were connected. Indiana State Fire Marshal investigators, with assistance from the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, served a search warrant and placed the teens under arrest. During the search of the residence, stolen items from one of the vacant house fires were recovered along with surveillance footage of the suspects igniting one of the fires. After being taken into custody, the two 18-year-olds confessed to setting and being involved in the fires.
Corya and McDonald currently are being held in the Jennings County jail. The 17-year-old currently is in custody at the Bartholomew County Juvenile Detention Center.
Many additional fire investigations remain open around the state. Investigators encourage anyone with information regarding a potential arson to call the Indiana Arson Hotline at 800-382-4628. The Indiana State Fire Marshal operates as part of the Division of Fire and Building Safety in the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.
