Two Women Sentenced For Arson-Insurance Plot In Austell

SMYRNA, GA -- Two Austell woman have pleaded guilty to arson-related charges after their home caught fire, Cobb County District Attorney Vic Reynolds announced Tuesday. The women -- Amanda Willard and Samantha Willard -- set their home ablaze to collect insurance money, the DA said.

While no one was inside the residence during the September 2015 incident, fire investigators quickly saw evidence that the flames were intentionally set, including all of the knobs on the gas stove turned on high.
Prosecutors said that women, who were married at the time, had taken out a $45,000 renter’s insurance policy with USAA days before the blaze.

Detectives cracked the case when the couple told them that they had left the home hours before it went up in flames. Cell phone records, however, proved that they were at the home about 45 minutes before the fire started. Also a witness said that he saw them leave the home around that time.

Insurers paid $84,000 to Willard's mother, Elizabeth who owned the home. Another $45,000 in renter's insurance went to the couple, a detail that Assistant District Attorney Marty First brought out in court.

“I believe Samantha Willard was the brains of this operation,” First told the court. “I just don’t find it reasonable that anyone is setting fire to their mom’s house without mom knowing.”

Amanda Grace Willard, a/k/a Amanda Grace Knepshield, 26, pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts of first-degree arson, insurance fraud, and making a false statement.
Cobb Superior Court Judge Kimberly Childs sentenced Amanda Willard to 20 years on probation. She must also pay $136,000 in restitution to the insurers and perform 60 hours of community service.

“This was not a financial crime,” but a domestic one involving two people in a doomed marriage, Samantha Willard’s attorney, John Steakley told the judge. Samantha, 25, pleaded guilty as well and was sentenced to 20 years -- five in prison and the remainder on probation. She was also ordered to pay $136,000 to the insurers.

According to a news release, "Samantha Willard then took out her phone and appeared to send a text message as her sentence was being imposed, drawing a sharp rebuke from the judge."

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