Jefferson City woman charged with arson after house fire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Jefferson City woman has pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of arson after a house fire earlier this month.

Sheila Kroeger is charged with first-degree and second-degree arson.

Court documents state that the home Kroeger was living in caught fire on July 9.

An officer with the Missouri State Fire Marshal's office said the property owner reported ongoing issues, including Kroeger allegedly not paying her rent.

Investigators found two points of origin, one in the bedroom and another on the back porch. Fire patterns were consistent with the fire being intentionally set, according to court documents.

Officers said Kroeger was interviewed on July 15 and said she was home alone when the fire started.

Court documents state that she described electrical issues throughout the home, but investigators found no evidence of this.

The officer also said Kroeger denied involvement but said "it couldn't be arson because an accelerant wasn't used," but that information was not provided.

No injuries were reported. A neighboring home was also damaged, along with a vehicle.

Online court records state that she pleaded not guilty during her arraignment on Monday.

Judge Joseph Shetler denied her request for a bond change. Kroeger is being held without bond at the Cole County jail.