EDEN, N.C. — Police are asking for the public's assistance in finding a person they believe is responsible for setting a home on fire in Eden.
Eden police along with the Eden Fire Department and Leaksville Rual 210 Fire Department responded to a fire at a home on the 2300 block of Harrington Highway Tuesday shortly before midnight.
Police said everyone inside the home escaped without injury.
Fire crews were able to put out the fire. Officers said the fire caused extensive damage to the home and a vehicle.
After investigation, Eden police discovered the fire was started with malice.
Following consultation with the Rockingham County District Attorney's Office, the suspect, Tesha Camelle Joyce of Roanoke Virginia, was charged with first degree arson.
At this time, police said Joyce’s whereabouts are unknown.
If you have any information on Joyce’s whereabouts or about the incident, call Detective David Kirkland at 336-623-9755.
The homeowner and his longtime girlfriend said they knew the woman who set their house on fire. The man who owns the home, said he was friends with her.
The fire happened in the garage and went up into the sunroom. The homeowner said he was sitting in the living room on the other side of the wall, within feet of the fire.
The homeowner said the home is considered a total loss. The couple does have a place to stay at this moment, but he said they are going to have to tear down the home and completely rebuild it.
He and his girlfriend rented the home for six years and then finally purchased it about a year and a half ago.
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