Woman Set House On Fire Killing 2 Cats, Charges Filed: Police

CLEARWATER, FL — Clearwater police detectives arrested Devon Childers, 26, Tuesday at a motel in St. Petersburg with the assistance of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office after she was accused of intentionally setting her house at 1340 S Evergreen Ave. in Clearwater on fire with her pets inside.

She was booked into the Pinellas County Jail on one count of first-degree arson and two counts of cruelty to animals. Her bail is set at $120,000.

Clearwater Fire & Rescue personnel were called to the home just before noon Dec. 1 and said they found the house fully involved. Firefighters said the blaze caused substantial damage to the home.

One cat was found dead inside the home and another cat and a dog were reported missing. Firefighters later found the second cat dead but have not located the dog.

Following an investigation, Clearwater Fire & Rescue and Clearwater police said they determined that the fire was intentionally set and issued a warrant for Childers' arrest.

According to jail records, Childers has a lengthy arrest record in Pinellas County including a charge of possessing crack cocaine in October, along with possession of illegal drugs charges in 2014, 2015 and 2019, battery on a person over the age of 65 in 2017, and battery on a hospital security guard and possession of methamphetamine in 2020.

See related story: Clearwater Woman Accused Of Setting House On Fire, 2 Cats Dead