Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more!
Dollar General Manager Allegedly Set Store On Fire, With Customers Inside, To Cover Up Theft
Two separate fires were started in a Dollar General — and officials say manager Kay Yvette Taylor ignited them to cover up stealing money from the chain.
A Dollar General store manager is accused of lighting her Georgia store on fire in an effort to cover up stealing from the location.
Kay Yvette Taylor, 41, of Douglas has been charged with one count of theft and one count of first-degree arson for the August 17 fire, the Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner wrote in a Wednesday press release.
“The fire was set while customers were inside the store. This is why it was very important for us to catch this suspect as quickly as possible,” Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King said in the statement. “Anyone who is willing to put lives in jeopardy for personal gain is a danger to society and needs to be apprehended immediately.”
Taylor is accused of setting two separate, unconnected fires inside the store, which led to the building suffering moderate exterior damage and “major” interior damage, according to the Commissioner. The damage of the store’s contents are estimated to be at around $300K while the damage to the building itself is about $400K.
“Further investigation revealed that a $3,300 cash deposit was taken and that the fires were set to distract from and cover up the theft,” the press release states.
Taylor was arrested Wednesday and is awaiting her bond hearing, WALB 10 in Southern Georgia reports. A first degree arson conviction could lead to a fine totaling $50,000, or up to 20 years behind bars, or both.
It’s not clear if Taylor has a lawyer.
Anyone who was at the Dollar General the morning of the fire is asked to call the Arson Hotline at 1-800-282-5804.
