Arrests made in string of arsons, burglaries in five Central Kentucky counties

State police say two people were arrested in Jessamine County on Tuesday in relation to a string of recent arsons and burglaries in five Central Kentucky counties.

A 17-year-old is charged with second-degree burglary and second-degree arson in connection with the most recent case, which occurred in Madison County on Monday, Trooper Robert Purdy said. John C. Roth, 38, of Nicholasville, is accused of selling property that was stolen Monday during that burglary and arson, Purdy said. He said the property was taken to a Nicholasville pawn shop Monday afternoon, and the homeowner identified it.

Roth was arrested and charged with one count of receiving stolen property under $10,000; the investigation continues, Purdy said.

Purdy said Monday’s arson provided information to about 10 local, federal and state police agencies working on the case “to help piece it all together.”

In each of the cases, the homes targeted were in rural areas, and no one was at home at the time. Most of the fires were reported on weekdays between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and most involved “nice houses out in the county” where neighbors were unlikely to see anything, Purdy has said.

The sixth fire and burglary was found Monday morning, when a passing Madison County firefighter saw smoke billowing from a house north of Richmond.

The first fire was set the morning of April 29 in Garrard County, and the second was on the same afternoon in Jessamine. Fires and burglaries followed at homes in Jessamine, Fayette and Scott County. The Scott County fire on May 3 leveled the home and destroyed a Ferrari.

This story was originally published May 10, 2016 at 9:20 PM with the headline "Arrests made in string of arsons, burglaries in five Central Kentucky counties."