Jeff Jones

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RED SPRINGS — A Red Springs woman is charged with setting a fire that killed four animals, according to sheriff’s Lt. Brian Duckworth.

Marilyn Rose Lowery, 56, of 466 Columbus Circle, Red Springs, is among four people, including two youths, arrested in recent days with arson.

She was charged on Monday with second-degree arson, felony cruelty to animals, and communicating threats after setting a fire to her home on Friday that killed three birds and a 7-week-old beagle, according to Duckworth. Lowery was sharing the home with her pregnant daughter, Gloria Lowery, and her four grandchildren..

Duckworth said Marilyn Lowery and her daughter had argued earlier in the day and that Gloria Lowery had left the home about 7 p.m. Marilyn Lowery was served a warrant for communicating threats to her daughter on the same night, according to Duckworth.

At about 8:06 p.m. on Friday, Marilyn Lowery set fire to a bed inside of the home and it engulfed the two-story home, according to Duckworth. Gloria Lowery and her children weren’t at home when the fire was started, according to Duckworth.

Burnt Swamp, Red Springs and Rennert firefighters responded, but the home, valued at $34,400, was destroyed. The home was owned by Gloria Lowery’s boyfriend, Juan Acevedo.

Lowery is being held at the Robeson County jail on $10,000 bond. Her first scheduled court appearance is Tuesday.

Duckworth said the Red Cross is helping Gloria Lowery and her children with temporary housing.

According to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Marilyn Rose Lowery was previously convicted of attempted second-degree murder and child abuse and spent about four years in prison.

On Friday, a 37-year-old Lumberton man was charged with second-degree arson for setting fire to a mobile home that he shared with his wife, according to sheriff’s Lt. Brian Duckworth.

Jeff Jones, of Parrot Drive, is accused in an Oct. 2 fire that damaged a mobile home on Roberts Farm Road. His wife, Tally Jones, was not at home when the fire was set, according to Duckworth.

Duckworth said that Jones and his wife had separated earlier that day, and Tally Jones had taken out a protective order against her husband.

Duckworth said the fire caused about $10,000 damage to the mobile home and its contents.

Jone is being held at the Robeson County jail on $10,000 bond.

Also on Friday, two St. Pauls youths were charged with setting fire to fields near Donna Street and Ballance Farm Road, according to Duckworth. He said the fire was set on Nov. 4 at about 5:30 p.m. and, after it got out of control, the two boys fled.

Duckworth said no one was injured in the fire, but it burned about four acres and endangered animals.

Each boy was charged with misdemeanor setting fire to grasslands.The boys’ names were not released because of their age.