NEWARK, Ohio -- A man who was charged in connection with a series of arsons in Newark has been ruled mentally unfit to stand trial.
NBC 4 reported with an update.
Matthew Craig, 28, was to spend six months at Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare and then be reevaluated.
Craig was charged with two counts of felony first-degree aggravated arson Sept. 2, 2009, after a series of arsons in Newark during a span of about a dozen days.
Craig was accused in two of the 10 confirmed arsons: the set fires at 105 S. 5th St. at 1:45 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 20 and 148 S. 5th St. at 8:32 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23.
Craig has a criminal past that includes the following previous charges: disorderly conduct, obstructing official business, aggravated possession of drugs and menacing.
He lived alone in an apartment on East Main Street.
Investigators determined 10 Newark fires were intentionally set in a 12-day period.
Here’s a list of the fires determined to be arson:
- 2:23 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 58 Bolen Ct.
- 2:20 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 305 E. Main St.
- An occupied business and apartment at 373 Iron Ave. Sunday, Sept. 27.
- Abandoned home at 332 Buckingham St. Sunday, Sept. 27.
- 10:54 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 at 148 E. Main St.
- 8:32 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 148 S. 5th St.
- 8:21 a.m. Monday, Sept. 21 at 119 W. Railroad St.
- 1:45 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 20 at 105 S. 5th St.
- 8:03 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17 at 156 S. 32nd St.
- 8:03 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17 at 182 and 184 E. Main St.
More specific details about how and where the fires started were not released.
Investigators were able to rule out accidental causes and found evidence to support the fires were set intentionally.
Investigators continued to look for information leading to the identification of the person or persons responsible for the remainder of the fires.
INTERACTIVE NEWARK ARSON MAP
View Newark Arsons in a larger map
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