WASHINGTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) — A man accused of setting his mother and her house ablaze made his initial court appearance on Friday morning.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee reported in a Thursday news release that 32-year-old Dustin Machen was taken into custody following an arson incident at a residence on S. Pickens Bridge Road. When deputies arrived at the scene, the house was already consumed by fire.
According to an affidavit obtained by News Channel 11, the victim alleged that her son, Machen, doused her and the house with gasoline as she attempted to leave. She also reported that he destroyed her phone to prevent her from contacting emergency services.