MOUNT HOPE, WV (WOAY) – It all started when Robert Phillip’s neighbor tore into one of his properties with a backhoe.
Phillips says he filed suit against the man and the next thing he knew his life was sent into a fiery tailspin.
“I’ve been having one burned every week now for a whole month. And I had two burned a year back, and he was a suspect in both of those,” Phillips said. “It needs to be stopped. You know, this is this is plum ridiculous. Somebody’s burning your home down, they’ll do whatever they have to do to you. I don’t know how I can be safe.”
The Maple Fork resident says he’s been the target of a serial arsonist who burned down four of his properties. He not only wants it to stop but for the state fire marshals to bring the perpetrator to justice.
According to Phillips, with this ongoing turn of events he doesn’t sleep much, is always waiting for the next shoe to drop and neighbors must be affected too.
“They must be terrified. I’m terrified. They must be. The only one not terrified is the one setting it,” he said. “Keep your eyes open; it’s happening at 2 and 3 a.m. Usually on Sundays — Maple Fork Road.”
The landowner/homeowner was trying to put in luxury RV lots.
“In here instead. And I can’t get it done for the fact that they keep burning everything down and it’s constantly under fire investigation,” said Phillips.
Leading up to court, he says the arsonist is burning more and more.
“Mount Hope, Bradley, Prosperity (fire departments) had to come back to this one (property) four times because it kept coming back on. It’s just devastating.”
Even when they make an arrest, Phillips says the situation is unfortunate no matter how you look at it.
“It’s gonna be sad for their family,” said the landowner. “One huge loss for everybody involved, for nothing.”
