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Accused of setting fire to their own home to fraudulently obtain insurance money
On March 8, Clermont County Prosecuting Attorney Mark J. Tekulve announced the indictment of husband and wife, Asa M. Dawson and Kaitlyn J. Dawson, both formerly of Batavia Township, Ohio.
On February 29, 2024, a Grand Jury indicted both Asa and Kaitlyn Dawson on four counts of Aggravated Arson, 3 counts of Arson, Tampering with Evidence, Insurance Fraud, and Telecommunications Fraud, for a total of ten counts. If convicted each can serve as many as 42 years in prison.
Both Dawsons were arraigned this morning at the Clermont County Common Pleas Court by Judge Anthony Brock, who ordered a bond of $50,000 O/R on the conditions that they surrender their passports and report to probation.
On September 20, 2022, the Dawsons home, which was located at 2385 Vista Lake Drive, was set on fire, and burned down. After a thorough investigation by the Clermont County Fire Investigative Unit, the State Fire Marshall’s Investigative Unit, and Investigators at the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office, it was determined that the fire was intentional. The Defendants utilized accelerants in an effort to set fire to their own home in order to fraudulently obtain insurance money. The fire also caused damage to their neighbors’ home, which was occupied by an elderly couple, one of whom was in a wheelchair. The Dawson’s egregious acts placed these two victims, as well as the first responders, in grave danger.
If you have information related to the arson, please contact the Investigative Unit at the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office by calling 513-732-7500.
“This couple endangered the lives of brave members of the firefighting community as well as their elderly neighbors, all to defraud their insurance company. We intend to fully prosecute this despicable act.” -Mark J. Tekulve, Clermont County Prosecutor