PAULDING COUNTY, Ga. — A woman has been charged with 14 counts of arson after a fire destroyed or damaged 20 homes in a Paulding County neighborhood.
Adrienne Satterly, 41, of 67 Rosemount Court, Hiram, Ga., has been charged with 14 counts of first-degree arson and three counts of aggravated animal cruelty.
An investigation by state arson investigators and the Hiram Police Department alleges that Satterly started a fire inside her home on Feb. 18, which ultimately spread to 19 separate homes in the Greystone Subdivision.
The blaze destroyed four homes, two sustained significant damage, and 14 other homes suffered varying degrees of heat and smoke damage. The fire was reported at 3:25 a.m.
"This suspect committed a heinous act that threatened the lives of her neighbors and our first responders," said Deputy Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner Jay Florence. "I commend the efforts of the fire investigators and detectives who worked on this case."
The warrants were executed overnight by the Hiram Police Department. Satterly is currently being held in the Paulding County Jail without bond.
First-degree arson is a felony with a penalty of one to 20 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $50,000.
Residents had to rush to safety from the fast-moving fire at the Hiram subdivision on Rosemont Court.
Neighbors said they ran out of their homes with almost nothing but their lives.
“I lost my two dogs, which is the hardest thing because material things can be replaced. But my dogs is my… that breaks my heart,” neighbor Auzalea Godfrey said.
Fire investigators say someone intentionally set a fire in one of the homes in the early hours of Sunday morning.
They say the woman who lived there, Adrienne Satterly, called 911 after walking about an hour to a Walmart.
Residents said she gave them no warning.
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"It’s just senseless and it’s sad. And it’s hateful, just hateful,” neighbor Shemiah Hedgebeth said.
The Red Cross is helping families with temporary housing, and others in the community are helping, too.
“I’ve worked with some of the restaurants in the city of Hiram. They’re going to be giving them lunch and dinner, no charge,” Hiram police Officer Clifford McGrady said.
Police are also making extra patrols to keep vandals away.
They set up a list on Facebook with items to donate to those who lost almost everything, like 13-year-old Jakobi Hayden.
“I don’t have any clothes. My birthday is next week, and I don’t have anything,” Hayden said.