Hunter
12/28/23
An Iowa City woman was arrested after allegedly setting fire to her ex boyfriend’s apartment while he was out of state.
Police say the incident occurred at approximately 1:22 am on Tuesday, when the Iowa City Police Department and Fire Department responded to 229 S. Dubuque St for a fire alarm. Shortly afterwards, 20-year-old Victoria Lea of South Linn Street called 911 and reported smoke inside her apartment. She was unable to tell 911 her address, stating she was watching an apartment, and refused to provide more information before hanging up on dispatch.
Firefighters entered the building and located smoke coming from an apartment, which was locked with a deadbolt. It was also discovered that the door had been barricaded shut from the inside with a chair and table. Once inside, firefighters found the couch in the living room had been lit on fire. A Bic lighter and can of lighter fluid was located on the floor by the couch. Firefighters extinguished the fire and searched the residence, where they located Lea. No other person was present inside the apartment.
A search warrant was executed at the apartment, where it was discovered besides the couch being lit on fire, the tenant’s glasses and headphones had also been intentionally burned by placing them in separate jar candles, and food was thrown all over the floors and walls of the apartment.
Police contacted the tenant, who stated he is the only occupant of the apartment, and is currently out of state. He said that Lea is his ex-girlfriend and had a key to his apartment.
The tenant added that the lighter and lighter fluid found on the living room floor near his burned up couch is kept in his bedroom, and would have to been taken to the living room.
The ex-boyfriend reported that Lea had contacted him several hours prior to the fire making suicidal comments, and was upset he would not immediately drive back Iowa City from out of state..
The 5 story apartment building had multiple residents at the time of the incident.
Lea was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon. She’s been charged with 1st degree Arson, a Class B Felony punishable by a prison term of up to 25 years if convicted.