LOGAN —A Cache Valley woman is in jail and facing allegations of intentionally setting her house on fire, according to law enforcement. Jeanette DeHart Christian was booked June 5 into the Cache County Jail after a warrant was issued for her arrest.
According to court records, Christian appeared June 11 in Logan’s 1st District Court. She was previously charged with arson, a second-degree felony.
Judge Brian Cannell ordered Christian to remain in jail and appear again in court June 18, allowing her attorney time to meet with her to review the case.
According to an arrest affidavit, firefighters were called to a fire Dec. 26, 2024, at Christian’s residence. A neighbor had called 911, reporting a fire in the home’s stairway.
Christian had allegedly told the neighbor, two individuals had used a candle to start the fire. They had also cut the propane line to the home, pounded on the roof and slammed her door.
Cache County Sheriff’s deputies reported many of Christian’s comments didn’t make sense. She had claimed the two unnamed individuals were running around her front yard naked and wanted to marry her, the arrest paperwork detailed.
Fire investigators examined the scene and determined the origin of the fire was under the stairs. There were several glass containers in the area that was consistent with other glass candles in the residence. The approximate damage to the home was $200,000 due to smoke and water destruction.
Deputies also reported there was another similar fire Nov. 28, 2024, inside a shed containing old hay in Christian’s backyard. The cause of the blaze was traced to a small candle located in the burned hay.
Christian reportedly denied igniting the fires, claiming again they were started by teenagers, who had allegedly been pestering and telling her how much they loved her.
Deputies reported Christian had started receiving insurance payments for the home’s damage but the money wasn’t used for repairs. She also disappeared in January, leading law enforcement to seek the warrant for her arrest.
According to jail records, Christian is being held without bail. She could face up to 15 years in prison, if convicted.
Individuals arrested and charged in complaints are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.