Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Police: Woman set man’s bed on fire
She is charged with arson, recklessly endangering another person, risking a catastrophe, and attempted homicide
WEST WHITELAND >> A 28-year-old woman allegedly lit a sleeping man’s bed on fire, ultimately rendering a home in the 1300 block of Old Phoenixville Pike uninhabitable.
Cheryl Roney reportedly set fire to the man’s bed twice. The first time, police said the man woke up to her standing at the end of his bed, laughing, while smoking a cigarette.
“There really is no explanation,” said West Whiteland Detective Scott Pezick when asked why Roney allegedly lit the bed on fire. “She’s standing at the foot his bed, laughing, smoking a cigarette.”
Roney was living at the residence with her mother. The man whose bed was lit on fire, was a 52-year-old who rented a room there.
Police said he stamped out the burning items and took the smoldering ones outside, but Roney then allegedly set fire to the man’s bed again, which he attempted once again to put out, even using a hose, but was ultimately unsuc-
cessful.
“By then it was too late,” Pezick said.
Police received the call at 3:22 a.m. When they arrived, police said the home was fully involved and that Roney was kneeling on the ground attempting to light another cigarette from some of the burning debris.
Her mother and the man both told police she inten- tionally set the fire.
She allegedly resisted arrest, and it took two officers to carry her to a marked po- lice car and transport her to Brandywine Hospital for a mental evaluation, where she has not yet been re- leased.
West Whiteland Fire Chief George “Bud” Turner said the fire was brought under control in about 25 minutes, and the man suffered from smoke inhalation.
Police said he was taken to the Chester County Hospital and released later that day, and that he suffered minor burns to his hands as well. Turner said the house was rendered “uninhabit- able,” and Assistant Fire Marshal Mike Holmes esti- mated damage done to the property at about $150,000. Roney has been charged with arson, recklessly endangering another person, risking a catastrophe, and attempted homicide. In addition to the West Whiteland police and the West Whiteland Fire Company, Goshen Fire Company, First West Chester Fire Company, Uwchlan Ambulance, Good Fellowship Ambulance, and Medic 91 also assisted. The Chester County District Attorney’s office assisted in the investigation.