Sheriff investigating apparent arsons

Two arsons have occurred in the county recently, and the Union County Sheriff’s Office is searching for clues.

The first incident was reported on July 22, when an officer from the UCSO was dispatched to a possible residential arson on Moro Bay Highway.

The Old Union Volunteer Fire Department responded to the call, and in their investigation, determined that the fire was started with some sort of accelerant “and not just an accident,” according to the police report.

Capt. Jeff Stinson, chief investigator for the UCSO,

said the residence that caught fire was uninhabited and in fact, already uninhabitable when the fire occurred.

The fire was reported the same day as the disappearance of Bethanie Kaye Sanders. UCSO investigators, Arkansas Game and Fish agents and Sanders’ family searched throughout that week for Sanders, who was found dead a week after her disappearance was first reported to police, on July 29.

The arson investigation took a back seat to the missing person investigation, Stinson said, though investigators have continued to look for clues.

However, with no one seen coming or leaving the residence and few neighbors nearby, Stinson does not suspect the investigation will be easy.

“[It] will be hard unless we get a lucky break,” he said in a written correspondence. “We’ll leave it open in case we get a break.”

Another arson was reported Tuesday in the 3000 block of Strong Highway in Union County. This time, the residence was being used. A resident reported being threatened via text message recently, showing the officers messages reading things like “I hope you are ready. I’m not playing anymore,” and “I got you,” according to the police report.

Stinson said an investigation into that incident is also ongoing.