NEWBURY — A Newbury woman has been charged with arson after she admitted to setting her million-dollar mansion afire Wednesday night.
Police say as flames tore through the house, Nancy Moore, 65, admitted to setting the fire, using rags she had placed on the stove. Police say she told them she was "sick of the house."
The house at 108 Pine Island Road had been for sale for more than 500 days, and recently the price had been dropped to $1.45 million. It had been originally listed at $2 million.
Clad in a white oxford shirt, pink linen pants, silver bangle bracelets and maroon rimmed glasses, Moore stood before Newburyport District Court Judge Peter Doyle yesterday afternoon, wiping her nose and taking deep breaths as she looked to her family, seated in the back of the courtroom. Her three adult children sat in the courtroom, her daughter crying as Moore answered to the charges.
According to court reports, Moore arrived at the home shortly after firefighters started battling the blaze around 7 p.m. Wednesday and immediately told firefighters as well as Newbury police Lt. John Lucey that she had set her home on fire.
"I observed a female party identified as the homeowner approach the home," Detective Aaron J. Wojtkowski wrote in his report, noting Moore smelled of an alcoholic beverage. "She was identified as Nancy Moore. She was crying and hugging an unknown party. As I approached that area, I overheard her making statements to the party that she has burned down the house."
According to police and court reports, Moore had placed rags on the gas stove and then left the home to burn. She had come back to the home once the fire had taken over most of it.
Yesterday, the state Fire Marshal's office found a large number of rags on the stove in the kitchen area.
"Her findings were consistent with Moore's initial statement that she had set the fire by placing rags on the stove," the report read.
Newbury police asked Moore to submit to a breath test to determine her level of alcohol impairment at the scene. According to police, several onlookers interfered with the police and told Moore to refuse the test, which she then told police she would not submit to.
"Ms. Moore told officers she had burned it down," prosecutor Maura Bailey told Doyle yesterday. "She said she was 'sick of the house' and wanted to 'let it burn.'"
Bailey, who said the home was classified as a "total loss," said Moore had purposely parked her car on Pine Island Road in a manner by which to obstruct fire apparatus from getting close.
"Police could also see into her car and saw jewelry, keepsakes and children's photos," Bailey said.
According to the police report, police observed a wooden jewelry box on the front passenger side of the car as well as three or four framed photographs of children.
"These could be keepsakes Moore removed from the home prior to setting the fire," the report read.
Yesterday, Bailey successfully argued the commonwealth believes Moore is a danger to society and should be placed in a 30-day inpatient treatment program rather than be held without bail in prison.
Doyle released Moore to her family to transport her to a Worcester-based treatment program. In addition, Moore is to remain alcohol and drug free, submit to random screens and go nowhere near her Pine Island Road home.
"I want to note she has no record, and she was released (Wednesday night) on personal recognizance," Doyle said. "She came here voluntarily today with her attorney. These were a factor in my decision."
A remorseful-looking Moore answered quietly as Doyle asked if she understood the terms of her release and if she were to violate them, she would go to prison for up to two years for the violation of the conditions.
According to Massachusetts General Laws, arson of a dwelling carries a sentence of up to 20 years or a fine of $10,000.
Neighbors said Moore was involved in charitable organizations in Newburyport, such as Anna Jaques Hospital and the Custom House Museum. According to court documents, Moore's ex-husband is Harrington Moore, owner of Harrington Moore Inc., industrial supplies on Parker Street in Newburyport.
The 5,701-square-foot contemporary-style home is set at the outer edge of a secluded neighborhood on the dead-end road that stretches east from High Road into the marsh toward Plum Island.
Wind, a narrow roadway and a lack of fire hydrants hampered fire personnel's work, as more than 10,000 gallons of water and dozens of firefighters from surrounding towns fought the blaze.
Moore was taken from the scene by Newbury police and booked at the Newbury police station. Attorney Michael Costello arrived at the station to speak with Moore.
Moore was represented yesterday by Salem attorney Cesar Archilla. Archilla said they did not have a comment yesterday. Moore is due back in court on Oct. 9.
