Executive Summary
- Kinston police responded to a vehicle fire at Carver Courts on Thursday morning.
- Investigators determined the fire was arson and identified two suspects as former partners of the car owner.
- Holly Richardson, 36, was arrested and charged with felony conspiracy and burning personal property.
- Police are searching for Ashley Baker, 25, who is wanted on similar felony charges.
Authorities in Kinston, North Carolina, have arrested one woman and are actively searching for a second suspect following a vehicle fire that investigators have determined was an act of arson. According to the Kinston Police Department, the incident occurred at the Carver Courts housing complex on Thursday morning.
First responders, including Kinston police officers and firefighters, were dispatched to the scene around 8 a.m. Upon arrival, crews observed the vehicle’s owner attempting to retrieve personal belongings from the burning car. Personnel from the Kinston Fire Department successfully extinguished the flames before further damage could occur.
Subsequent investigation by law enforcement revealed that the fire had been intentionally set. Police identified the suspects as 36-year-old Holly Richardson and 25-year-old Ashley Baker. The police report indicates that both women are former partners of the vehicle’s owner.
Officers arrested Richardson, who has been booked into the Lenoir County Jail. She faces charges of felony conspiracy, burning personal property, and littering hazardous waste. Authorities have issued active arrest warrants for Baker, charging her with felony burning of personal property, felony conspiracy, littering, and burning without a watchman.
Investigative Outlook
Law enforcement officials are currently soliciting public assistance to locate Ashley Baker, urging anyone with information regarding her whereabouts to contact the Kinston Police Department or Lenoir County Crime Stoppers. This investigation underscores the collaboration between fire officials and police in rapidly identifying suspects in property crimes involving arson. It is important to note that all individuals charged in this matter are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
