Athens woman indicted in arson case

Published 5:01 pm Monday, September 24, 2018

The Limestone County grand jury has indicted an Athens woman on charges of insurance fraud and arson related to a house fire in April, records show.

Alabama Department of Insurance Public Information Officer Jennifer Bowen said the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office alerted them to a suspicious fire in the 23000 block of Miller Road in Athens in April. Bowen said the fire happened early in the morning in a home that was not connected to power.

“Per our investigator, the cause was an ‘open flame’ set intentionally,” Bowen said.

Investigators believe Laura Haggenmaker Pylant, who owned the home, had been the one to start the blaze. Bowen said the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the investigation.

Pylant then filed a claim with Geico Insurance Agency Inc. claiming a loss, or potential loss, of more than $1,000, court records show.

Pylant, 56, of 18402 Wells Road, was indicted Sept. 7 on one count of first-degree insurance fraud and one count of second-degree arson. She was arrested Sept. 20 but later released from the Limestone County Jail on a $5,000 bond.