Estimated read time: 2-3 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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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.
SALT LAKE CITY — A woman with a long history of theft and drug-related crimes has now been charged in connection with a house fire in Salt Lake City and is under investigation for a second fire at downtown business.
Mary Lacey, 38, who is listed as homeless in court documents, was charged Tuesday with aggravated arson, a first-degree felony. A no-bail warrant was issued for Lacey, who is already being held in the Salt Lake County Jail on other cases.
On Sept. 17, 2020, a woman went to check on her property near 700 West and 1300 South and found Lacey sitting in the living room with a fire "extending up the wall and burning the surrounding area," according to charging documents. A fire was also found burning in the garage.
When questioned by fire officials, Lacey stated, "I wanted to get rid of all the demons, so I tried to burn them out," the charges state.
Prosecutors have requested that Lacey be held in jail without bail pending trial, noting that she is already on probation for three other felony crimes.
"Since being sentenced to probation in June 2021, (Lacey) has never, to date, reported to Adult Probation and Parole. She also has a lengthy history of failing to appear in court," the charges say.
She also has two other felony cases pending.
According to court records, Lacey was arrested Nov. 17 for investigation of aggravated arson after she allegedly set fire to the vacant Sears building, 750 S. State. When she was arrested, she told investigators the reason for starting the fire was "chemical warfare," according to a police booking affidavit.
On May 10, Lacey pleaded guilty in several cases to a number of charges, including retail theft, mail theft, burglary and drug possession, in exchange for several other cases being dismissed. Then on Nov. 17, she was charged again with retail theft, a third-degree felony. She was charged with drug possession, a third-degree felony, on Dec. 15.
In 2006, Lacey pleaded guilty to abuse or desecration of a dead body after her 5-month-old daughter died of a methamphetamine overdose. The infant passed away after Lacey's boyfriend left a bag of meth within her reach. Lacey then moved her daughter's body to another home so her boyfriend, who was on parole, wouldn't get in trouble.
