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Woman arrested for burning down house with spicy tortilla chip

Witnesses told police they saw Ms Williams pour gasoline from a soda bottle onto clothes and the laundry room floor before a lighting spicy Takis tortilla chip on fire

Andrea Cavallier
Thursday 24 August 2023 17:48 BST
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Patricia Williams, 42, was charged with arson after allegedly burning down a house with a spicy chip
Patricia Williams, 42, was charged with arson after allegedly burning down a house with a spicy chip (Greene County Jail)

A Missouri woman is behind bars after she allegedly poured gasoline on a pile of clothes, lit a spicy Takis tortilla chip on fire and burned down a Greene County house.

Patricia Williams, 42, told police she started the fire intentionally, explaining that she used the chips because she knew they would be flammable due to the high grease content, according to a probable cause report obtained by Fox4 News.

Police arrived at the scene on 11 August and saw smoke coming from the back door with people standing out front.

Witnesses told police that they saw Ms Williams enter the house, pour gasoline from a soda bottle onto clothes and on the laundry room floor before lighting a spicy Takis tortilla chip on fire.

Three other people were inside the house at the time of the fire. They were able to get out and were not injured in the incident.

Ms Williams was taken into custody and charged with arson.

An investigation later revealed that Ms Williams was seen on gas station surveillance footage prepaying for $2 worth of gasoline.

The relationship between Ms Williams and the occupants of the house is unclear.

She is being held in Greene County Jail for arson and other warrants. Her next court appearance is 6 September.

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