Man questioned in 'suspicious' Lumberton fire

LUMBERTON, N.J. - January 5, 2011

Police said they are interviewing a 23-year-old man as a 'person of interest' in this case, but no charges have been filed.

The same man is also suspected of setting fire to an SUV on Friday.

The condo fire happened at around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the unit block of Ginger Drive in the Country Estates Development.

Police are investigating reports there was some kind of dispute between the man they are questioning and Daniel Overstreet, whose mother - Ingrid Guerra - lives in the house where Tuesday's blaze  started. Guerra arrived home to find she'd lost her home and a pet dog.

Several neighbors have told police they saw the prime suspect coming out of Guerra's home moments before the fire was detected.

"I talked to the three witnesses last night. He parked out there, went in the house and then came out real quick," said neighbor John Purcell.

Neighbors also say the suspect sent messages on Facebook to friends about what he planned to do and that they warned Ingrid Guerra.

The prime suspect's grandmother, Gloria Reed, says she can't believe her grandson would commit arson.

  "I can't imagine anybody who would set things on fire. Brian is a decent sort," Reed said.

Jackie Bonino's family is one of three displaced by the fire.

"I can't imagine anyone doing something like that. It's nothing short of assassination," she said. "If this was the middle of the night we would have all been sleeping and we wouldn't have woke up."

No injuries were reported in the fire.

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