Arson, Attempted Murder Charges Lodged In Thompson Blaze

THOMPSON, CT — A third suspect has been arrested for the May 13, 2024 arson fire at a home on Buckley Hill Road, according to state police.

Cassandra Lee Heredia, 32, of Windham, was charged Friday on a warrant with criminal attempt to commit murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree arson.

Walter Lawson, 43, and James Chenevert, 59, were arrested in February, with both facing arson and attempted murder-related charges.

Heredia was arraigned in Superior Court in Danielson Friday, and she remains in custody.

Two people, a husband and wife, escaped the house fire, which happened in the North Grosvenordale section of town.

After firefighters extinguished the blaze, investigators noticed an odor of gasoline, burn patterns consistent with an arson fire, and a discarded gas can in the vicinity. An accelerant detection canine alerted at the scene, and the fire was ultimately ruled as an incendiary one, an arrest warrant affidavit shows.

Police also found a black Apple iPhone in the side yard. According to police, they were able to link the phone and evidence from the gas can to the suspects.

Heredia told investigators Chenevert drove her and Lawson to the residence, then Lawson walked up the driveway with the gas can and started pouring gas as he walked around the house. She told police she was standing beside Lawson when he ignited the poured gasoline, according to the warrant.

According to Heredia, Lawson dropped his cell phone when he fled the scene and ran back to their vehicle, where Chenevert was waiting. Heredia said Chenevert then drove her and Lawson back to a hotel where they were staying, the warrant shows.

Heredia told state police Lawson’s intent was to set the fire as revenge for a beating Chenevert sustained when he was attacked by a group of men. She told police one of the assailants was a man who stayed at the Buckley Hill Road residence, the warrant shows.

That individual was not in the house at the time of the fire, according to the warrant.