Casa Maria’s owner accused of arson in southeast Missouri requests change of venue

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

An owner of a Mexican restaurant in Columbia who has been accused of arson in Dunklin County requested a change of venue on Wednesday.

Crystal Umfress, 40, was charged with second-degree arson. Umfress is an owner of Casa Maria’s Restaurant in Columbia.

A warrant was ordered for Umfress on Dec. 19 after the court claimed she violated a judge’s order by failing to keep a GPS device charged properly. Umfress’ attorney filed a motion to withdraw the order on Dec. 20. On Wednesday, according to court records posted on Thursday afternoon, the warrant was withdrawn.

A motion hearing is set for 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10.

Court documents filed in July state that Umfress contacted a witness and asked her to burn a business in Kennett. A fire later broke out at Lupita's Mexican Restaurant.

Umfress then allegedly hired Kerry Raymond to set the fire. A witness told Kennett police that Umfress contacted her to burn the business when Raymond was with her, according to a probable cause statement.

Raymond, 40, of Gideon, was also charged with second-degree arson. A change of venue was filed in Raymond’s case and it was moved to Stoddard County. A case review is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday, March 14.