Gas station employee charged with theft, arson in $1 million fire

By Karla Ward - kward1@herald-leader.com

An assistant manager at a Clay City gas station has been charged with setting fire to the business last month.

Elizabeth Rogers, 29, of Irvine has been charged with one count of arson and five counts of wanton endangerment for a fire at the Apple Mart Convenience Store Nov. 24, state police said. The fire caused more than $1 million in damage to the building and its contents, state police said.

Trooper Ralph Lockard said the wanton endangerment charges are related to the fact that five people were on the premises at the time of the incident.

Rogers, who state police said was stealing through her position at the gas station, was also charged with one count of tampering with physical evidence, one count of theft by unlawful taking and five counts of theft by deception. The business is owned by the Workman Company of Forest, Va.

Rogers was arrested Monday and lodged in the Powell County Detention Center.

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