Plymouth Man Sets Own House On Fire To Collect Insurance Money

PLYMOUTH, MI — A Plymouth man could spend the rest of his life in prison after he intentionally set his house on fire to make an insurance claim, according to the Michigan Attorney's General office.

Patrick Nolan, 42, was found guilty in the 3rd Circuit Court in Wayne County of one count of arson of an insured dwelling (potential life-sentence offense) and one count of second-degree arson (20-year felony).

Each count also carries a potential fine of $20,000 or three times the value of the property, whichever is greater. Nolan will be sentenced on Oct. 17.

Officials from the Plymouth Township Police and Fire Departments responded to a house fire in the 50000 block of Sheffield Court, just after 2 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2019, according to the Michigan Attorney's General office.

Nolan owned the home, and subsequently attempted to make an insurance claim on the loss, according to the Michigan Attorney's General office.

During their investigation, officials determined the cause to be arson after gasoline was found poured throughout the home and that the fire was intentionally set in three separate, unconnected areas of the home: the master bedroom, basement storage room and the common hall at the top of the basement stairs, according to the Michigan Attorney's General office.

"The fire was human caused," investigators determined, adding that no natural causes were found during the investigation, according to the Michigan Attorney's General office.

Investigators then used information from Nolan's truck's infotainment system to put him at the home just before the fire started, according to the Michigan Attorney's General office.

"Every arson represents another instance where our firefighters and first responders risk their lives to protect public safety, and that’s an unacceptable danger to our communities," Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said.

No one was inside the home at the time of the fire, and no one was injured, officials said.