Chicago Man Douses Car With Lighter Fluid, Torches It: Police

HODGKINS, IL — A Chicago man torched a car that was parked in the lot of his former employer, prosecutors said. Robert Godbold, 56, appeared before Cook County Judge John Mahoney on a felony charge of arson.

Around 3:30 p.m. July 17, the prosecutor said Godbold went to the site of a food processing company in the 9100 block of West 67th Street in Hodgkins, where he had once been employed. Godbold is accused of taking a bottle of lighter fluid and dousing the inside of a 2005 Chrysler Town and Country. The prosecutor said that Godbold lit the inside of the vehicle, which became engulfed in flames. The car was destroyed in the fire.

Godbold was arrested July 25. Hodgkins police said he admitted to setting fire to the vehicle.

The prosecutor told the judge that Godbold has 26 prior misdemeanor and felony arrests, including residential burglary, possession of burglary tools and aggravated battery. In 1999, Godbold was convicted of criminal sexual abuse by force. He’s been convicted twice for failure to report a change of address and is a registered sexual predator, according to the state records.

“He’s just a career criminal,” Mahoney said.

Bail was set at $300,000. Godbold is due back in court Aug. 22 in Bridgeview.