Man Who Set Fire To Own House Wanted To Help Mom

GREENFIELD, WI — A Greenfield man who reportedly set his own house on fire told authorities that he just wanted to "get his mom and niece into a better situation" as he stood smirking outside the burning house as firefighters arrived on-scene to douse the flames.

Mitchell Krenz faces one count of arson and two counts of recklessly endangering safety and could face up to 40 years behind bars if he is convicted.

According to his criminal complaint, on July 10, Krenz' mother was at home with her four-year-old granddaughter when she went to the basement to look for him.

She told police she felt an “implosion” inside of the home. She immediately grabbed her granddaughter and fled the residence. Little did she know, her son was busy trying to set fire to their house on the 4400 block of S. 46th St. - when something went wrong.

The Greenfield Fire Department arrived on scene to put out the fire, as Mitchell Krenz stood outside. When telling Greenfield police that he had intentionally set the fire by pouring gasoline in the basement and other parts of the home, he appeared to be smirking, without any emotion, and smelled of gasoline, according to his criminal complaint.

Krenz explained that he knew his mother and niece were home at the time and had intended to get them out of the house before starting the fire, but before he left the basement, the gasoline ignited near the water heater. He yelled at his mom to get out before pouring the rest of the first canister of gasoline throughout the basement, his criminal complaint stated.

Krenz described in detail to police how he had to chase down his two cats, Merlon and Skittish, and put them inside a suitcase outside the house before he poured the gasoline he had purchased all around the basement floor.

Surveillance video from a nearby BP gas station confirmed that Krenz purchased the two red 2-gallon gas containers at 4:38 pm on the day the fire was set. The single family residence was burned beyond repair with damages estimated at over $100,000 with the most extensive burning the living room and kitchen area.

According to the criminal complaint, his goal was to get his mother out of the house, to help her into getting a better living situation, possibly with her boyfriend. He emphasized to police that he did not want to hurt anyone, just get his mom and niece into a better situation, and that his mother knew nothing about his plan.

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milwaukee county jail photo