Woman Set Fire That Killed Cat, Filed Insurance Claims: Morris County Prosecutor

PEQUANNOCK TOWNSHIP, NJ — A woman set her Morris County home on fire, which killed a cat, and then filed insurance claims on the blaze, according to the Morris County Prosecutor's Office. Pamela Hankin set fire to a room in her home while one of her roommates was still inside on July 14, authorities said.

Hankin, 46, surrendered to the prosecutor's office Monday and was charged on a warrant with three counts of aggravated arson (second-degree) and one count each of insurance fraud, endangering another person and animal cruelty — third-degree crimes. The Boonton resident was granted pretrial release.

The fire made the Prospect Avenue house uninhabitable, according to authorities.

The charges result from a joint investigation by the Pequannock Township Police Department, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Arson and Environmental Crimes Unit, with the assistance of the Jackson Township (Ocean County) Police Department and the Pequannock Township Fire Department, according to the prosecutor's office.

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