ROME, Ga. — Two people are behind bars for what authorities are calling one of the largest arson cases in Floyd County.
Authorities arrested Donald Eric LuAllen, 59, in Oxford, Alabama on Monday. Stanley Edward Stephens, 68, was taken into custody in Florida near Daytona Beach Wednesday night. They are both charged with arson - 1st degree.
According to the Rome Floyd Fire Department, the large home on Craton Road was about 5,900 square feet and burned to the ground on Feb. 10.
Fire Marshal Mary Catherine Chewning said Regions Bank owned the house and it was insured. However, Stephens lived at the home before it entered foreclosure.
Chewning said an ignitable liquid was used to start the fire.
“Due to the size of the house, we have reason to believe multiple fires were set within the structure," she said in a news conference Thursday.
A farmhouse nearby had some heat damage she added.
"We guesstimate approximately $2.5 million are involved in this case," Chewning explained. "This is one of the largest arson cases here in Floyd County that I am aware of at this time.”
Chewing said this is an ongoing investigation and more charges are pending.
