A Tucson man, seeking a father’s blessing to marry his daughter, is accused of setting the would-be in-law’s car on fire so its owner could collect insurance on it.
Anthony Lillie, 23, allegedly set the fire for Roy Weeast, 57. Both are charged with arson and fraudulent schemes and artifices in the case that detectives began investigating Jan. 19 when a 2006 Dodge Charger was found burning on Craycroft Road near the Los Reales Landfill.
The car was reported stolen the day before, Tucson police spokesman Sgt. Fabian Pacheco said.
Police detectives and Tucson Fire Department arson investigators determined the car’s interior was doused with a flammable liquid and set afire.
Firefighters put the fire out before significant damage was done to the vehicle.
Detectives obtained warrants to search the homes of Weeast and his daughter after learning he owed $25,000 on the car, valued at $14,000 before the fire.
Evidence related to the alleged arson was reportedly found during the searches and investigators contacted Lillie, who is accused of torching the car in exchange for Weeast’s marriage blessing.
Pacheco said this should serve as a warning against committing insurance fraud.