ASHBURN, VA – A Loudoun County man was convicted of all charges, including murder and arson, over a Sterling fire that killed a 36-year-old woman.
Jacob Bogatin, who was 78 at the time of the crime, was found guilty of murder and arson in the October 2025 death of Madelaine Akers after a trial, Loudoun County Commonwealth's Attorney Bob Anderson announced on Wednesday evening. He was found guilty on all charges: one count of first-degree murder, three counts of arson of an occupied structure and one count of arson of personal property.
During the trial, neighbors testified that they could hear a woman screaming for help, but that the fire was so intense they couldn't reach her, according to a report by NBC 4.
Prosecutors successfully argued that Bogatin had set fire to his townhouse on Riptide Square in hopes of collecting a $1 million insurance payout. The fire then spread to two other homes, causing massive damage and trapping Akers.
Anderson congratulated prosecutors, county fire authorities and jurors on navigating a complicated case involving dozens of witnesses and hinging on a volume of circumstantial evidence.
Bogatin will be sentenced on Dec. 4.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Ashburn Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.