Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
COPPERTON — A woman who was treated at a local hospital for smoke inhalation after calling firefighters to her burning home was later arrested.
Cathleen Ruth Lunnen, 55, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of aggravated arson.
Unified Fire Authority crews were called to Lunnen's house, 8585 W. State Highway (10200 South), about 9 p.m. Tuesday and found smoke coming from the windows and back area of the house.
Firefighters determined there were two fires burning, one on the bed belonging to Lunnen's husband and the other in the stairway leading to the basement, according to a Salt Lake County Jail report.
Investigators interviewed Lunnen's husband and daughter who stated that she "had threatened several times earlier that day to burn the house down," the report states. The husband was at the daughter's house, which is nearby, when the fire started.
Lunnen was found on the back deck and was taken to a local hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. She later told investigators that she poured gasoline onto her husband's bed, lit a match and threw it on the gas, the report states. A box of matches was still in Lunnen's pocket, according to police.
Damage to the house was estimated to be between $80,000 and $100,000.
Utah state court records show Lunnen has been involved in criminal or civil litigation cases for more than 20 years. She was convicted of three counts of felony forgery in 1996 and ordered to attend a drug treatment program as part of her probation. She pleaded no contest to an amended charge of attempted retail theft in 2011.
Contributing: Whitney Evans and Nicole Vowell
