PEQUANNOCK TOWNSHIP, NJ (Morris County) – A Morris County woman is accused of starting a fire that destroyed a home and killed a cat, and then filed insurance claims, according to Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll.
Pamela Hankin, 46, of Boonton has been charged with three counts of second-degree aggravated arson, third-degree insurance fraud, third-degree endangering another person, and third-degree animal cruelty.
It is alleged that on July 14, 2021 Hankin set fire to her room at a residence where she lived with two other individuals, one of whom was still inside the home, Carroll said.
As result of Hankin’s actions, a structure fire caused structural damage to the house and rendered it uninhabitable and the fire also caused the death of a cat. Following the fire, she filed insurance claims related to the fire, Carroll said.
The Pequannock Township Police Department, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Arson and Environmental Crimes Unit, with the assistance of the Jackson Township (Ocean County) Police Department and the Pequannock Township Fire Department assisted in the investigation.
Hankin surrendered to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office on February 28 and was charged. She was granted pretrial release with conditions consistent with the Criminal Justice Reform guidelines, Carroll said.
