Share and Follow
Inset: Melissa Joann Dunham (Citrus County Sheriff”s Office). Background: Crews knock down a fire in the 4900 block of South Powell Point in Homosassa, Florida (Citrus County Fire Rescue).
Melissa Joann Dunham, aged 40, faces arson charges following a blaze at a home located in the 4900 block of South Powell Point in Homosassa. The incident unfolded shortly before 10:30 a.m. on a Monday, as reported by the Citrus County Fire Rescue Department. When emergency teams arrived, they discovered the residence engulfed in flames, requiring an hour to extinguish. Investigations indicated that the fire was deliberately set.
Dunham was found at the scene with a suspicious piece of evidence—she was in possession of a bottle of lighter fluid, as detailed in a probable cause arrest affidavit acquired by Law&Crime.
Officers interviewed the homeowner’s son, who had just turned 18 on March 17. He explained that although his parents had been estranged, Dunham returned to live with him and his father to celebrate his milestone birthday together. She had hoped this would be an opportunity to reignite the relationship with her husband, their son informed the police.
Cops spoke with the homeowner’s son, who turned 18 on March 17. He said his parents had been separated for a while but Dunham moved back in with him and his father so they could celebrate his birthday as a family. Dunham thought she could “rekindle” the marriage with her husband, their son told cops.
But almost as soon as she moved back in, the couple resumed their arguments. Dunham was upset that her husband was too busy to spend time with her, according to their son. The son had decided to move out of the home on the morning of the fire because he didn’t want to be involved in his parents’ “toxic” relationship, the affidavit said. On the night before the fire, Dunham allegedly took a hammer and made several holes in the wall.
Dunham’s husband was charging his phone in his car when he heard his wife yell “now we don’t have s—.” Then he saw the house was on fire.
Cops later took Dunham into custody. She spoke with detectives but her statement is redacted from the affidavit.
The defendant is at the Citrus County Jail without bond. Her next court date is set for April 13.