Casa Maria’s owner found not guilty of arson, has hearing later this month in second case
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A woman who was accused of arson in Dunklin County was found not guilty of the charge.
Crystal Umfress, who owned Casa Maria’s in Columbia, was found not guilty of her second-degree arson charge, her attorney Russell Oliver told ABC 17 News on Tuesday night. She was accused of hiring Kerry Raymond to burn down Lupita's Mexican Restaurant in 2023 in Dunklin County.
“We’re very pleased with the outcome of the case, [it was] fortunate for Crystal to have her day in court and we feel the jury got it right,” Oliver told ABC 17 News on Tuesday evening.
The case was held in Butler County after it was moved in 2024. Umfress is still facing two counts of filing false documents and three counts of forgery after she was accused of impersonating county officials and restaurant owners. Oliver said a hearing is scheduled for Feb. 17 in Butler County.
Casa Maria’s moved out of its Columbia location in December after a judge ruled in Grindstone Plaza Development in its motion for default against Umfress. A writ of possession order filed on Dec. 17 says the restaurant was ordered to vacate the property after owing $120,750.04 in unpaid rent and $8,926.61 in fees and costs. The restaurant had indicated in social media post at the time that it would continue as a food truck.
Raymond has a case review scheduled in his second-degree arson case out of Stoddard County for 1 p.m. March 5.
Check back for updates.
