Homeowner Charged With Arson, 4 Fires Burned Her Bristol Twp. Home: PD

BRISTOL TOWNSHIP, PA — A township homeowner has been charged with arson for allegedly setting fire to her home three times in June, authorities said.

Bristol Township Police arrested Catherine Gerretz on Tuesday and charged her with arson, endangering property, intimidation of a witness, insurance fraud, and related charges.

At 3:05 a.m. on June 10, Bristol Township Police, along with the Levittown Fire Company #2, Edgely Fire Company, and Third District Fire Company, responded to a home on Yellowood Drive for a fire report.

The fire was extinguished before police and fire crews arrived, authorities said.

Five hours later, Fire Marshal Kevin Dippolito and Police Officer Paul Aita responded to the home, and saw two more areas of fire damage.

Once again, these two fires were also self-extinguished before the fire marshal’s arrival, authorities said.

The fire marshal deemed all these fires to be incendiary.

The next day, at 1:29 a.m. on June 11, police, along with the Levittown Fire Company #2, Edgely Fire Company, Third District Fire Company, Bristol Township Fire Marshal, Newportville Fire Company, and Morrisville Fire Company, responded to the same residence for another report of a fire.

The home sustained substantial damage and was deemed uninhabitable.

The fire marshal deemed this fire to be incendiary as well.

A preliminary arraignment was held by Magisterial District Judge Kevin P. Wagner, and bail was set at $200,000 with 10 percent.