Connellsville woman charged with aggravated arson
A Connellsville woman is accused of intentionally setting a fire at her home in May while other people were inside.
Allie Ritenour, 35, was charged Friday with aggravated arson-person inside property; arson endangering property; criminal mischief, and recklessly endangering another person in connection with the May 3 fire.
A neighbor told police Ritenour had run into the residence at 219A North 10th St. after arriving with her boyfriend minutes before the fire was reported at 1:46 p.m.
Five to seven minutes later, the neighbor told police, the house was engulfed in flames, according to charging documents.
Three other people were inside the residence at the time of the fire. According to the complaint, all three were on the top floor, which allows no access to the bottom floor, where the state police fire marshal said the fire began.
Ritenour, who returned to the scene about half an hour later, told Connellsville officers she had run into the house to retrieve a digital scale, according to the complaint.
As Ritenour was talking to officers, charging documents stated, Ritenour’s boyfriend ran over and yelled, “Why did you do it? Why did you burn our house down?”
Ritenour was released on bail after posting a $25,000 self surety bond.
Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 23 before Judge Ronald Haggerty.