A 65-year-old Stuart woman is accused of purposefully setting her home on fire and then trying to defraud her insurance company.
Joanne Konefal, of the 1000 block of Southwest Bromelia Terrace in Stuart, was arrested on two felony arson charges Friday afternoon.
Martin County Fire Rescue said firefighters responded to Konefal's home Nov. 6 and saw Konefal was trapped inside her burning home. They said they forced their way into the home and took Konefal to safety. "I set my house on fire; I want to die," Konefal told firefighters.
Konefal also told firefighters she used gasoline to set her master bedroom and kitchen ablaze, where the fire was confirmed to have started.
During an investigation, state Fire Marshal officials said Konefal filed an insurance claim on Nov. 15 with Federated National Insurance Co. for the destruction of her home.