Woman Set Fire To Home With 5 People Inside: Sarasota Police

SARASOTA, FL — A woman faces multiple charges after trying to burn down a home with five people inside — including 1-year-old twins — on New Year’s Eve, according to a Sarasota Police Department news release.

Andrea Allen, 35, of Sarasota was charged with five counts of attempted murder while engaged in arson, the agency said.

In addition to the twins, there were two 35-year-old women and a 47-year-old woman in the home when Allen tried to set it on fire.

Police responded to a report of a residential fire on Palmadelia Avenue on Dec. 31 around 8:30 a.m. Allen and one of the 35-year-old women victims were brought to Blake Medical Center’s burn unit for treatment.

Detectives and an arson investigator learned that the suspect argued with two of the women in the home the night before, leaving around 11 p.m.

She returned to the home around 2 a.m., while two of the women were talking in a bedroom with an open window. The women believe Allen overheard their conversation, according to police.

Shortly after this, the suspect entered the home, demanding one of the women leave. During their argument, Allen walked outside, retrieved a gas can, and went back into the home with the gas can in one hand and a light in the other, SPD said.

While standing in the living room and holding these items, Allen asked, “You think I’m playing?”

One of the victims yelled to the second victim, who was in her bedroom, to warn her before grabbing the twin boys off the couch and running outside, police said.

Once outside, the victim saw smoke coming from the house and saw Allen jumping out of the bedroom window.

When detectives executed a search warrant on Dec. 31 at 6 p.m., they found a lighter and clothing covered in accelerant fluid, according to SPD.

Allen was arrested after being treated at Blake Medical Center and is currently held at the Sarasota County Jail on no bond.

Anyone with any information on this case or other cases involving Allen is asked to call Detective Maria Llovio at 941-263-6836 or email her at Maria.Llovio@SarasotaFl.gov. An anonymous tip can be submitted to Crime Stoppers by calling 941-366-TIPS or online at www.sarasotacrimestoppers.com.