Married Couple Admits Planning to Burn Down Historic Diner

A married couple from Cumberland County admitted they planned to destroy an historic diner they owned in Bridgeton, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced on Tuesday.

Andrew Webster, 49, and Brenda Webster, 44, both of Cedarville, pleaded guilty to separate informations charging them each with one count of conspiracy to commit arson.

They purchased Angie’s Bridgeton Grill in March of 2012, according to documents filed and statements made in court.

Angie’s is a nearly 75-year-old diner that was listed on the New Jersey and National Register of Historic Places in 2012.

After purchasing the diner, it wasn’t long before they fell on financially tough times. They admitted during their plea hearings that they agreed to burn the diner down.

They also admitted that on Oct. 23, 2012, they traveled to the diner in Andrew’s truck.

According to the charges, during the early morning hours of Oct. 24, 2012, the Websters entered the diner, collected combustible materials (including newspapers, paper menus, and other light-weight combustible materials), doused them with gasoline, and ignited them with an open flame.

Brenda Webster suffered burns to her body when gasoline vapors inside the diner ignited.

The two quickly left, and within a short period of time, the fire destroyed the diner.

Sentencing for both is scheduled for May 14.

Both were released on bail subject to a $50,000 unsecured bond and travel restrictions.

Fishman credited the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George Belsky; the Cumberland County Prosecutors Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae; and the Bridgeton

Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Ott, for the investigation leading to the guilty pleas.