A Wayne County woman is homeless and her two dogs and cats are dead after an unknown person fired a flare through a window, igniting a fire that consumed her house.
The State Fire Marshal's office has issued a $5,000 reward and is assisting the Creston Police Department and the Canaan Township Fire Department with the investigation.
The fire happened at 101 Onion Street in Creston Village around 10:15 p.m. on Dec. 20.
"I just have no words to explain the lack of compassion and humanity," said Misty Drown who lived at the home with her son, Damon Cooper. He was not home at the time of the arson.
Drown, 44, said she was laying in bed in a second-floor bedroom Wednesday night when she heard glass break and her dogs started growling.
Surveillance video shows a car pull up to a home in Creston. Someone fired a flare gun into the home. 2 dogs & cats killed. House destroyed. Woman who lived there had to climb out a 2nd floor window to escape. $5,000 reward offered to catch arsonist. @WEWS pic.twitter.com/d2mdezCJEu
— Bob Jones WEWS (@bobjonesTV) December 22, 2017
A security camera on a nearby business captured footage of someone shooting a flare gun from a car and into a living room window.
Drown was able to escape by climbing out a second story window onto the roof. She was rescued by her neighbor, who is a police officer.
Drown's two pet pit bulls and two cats died in the fire. She was unharmed. The family set up a GoFundMe account for Misty.
"Stuff can be replaced. Those (pets) were my girls. Those were my other kids," Drown said.
On December 18, another flare was shot into the home when Cooper was home by himself. Cooper put the flare out and was not hurt.
Drown said she has no idea why anyone would target her family.
"I feel worse for them because they're going to have to live with that guilt. If they have a heart, they should have guilt."
Police don't have any suspects. Anyone with information or possible video evidence is asked to call the Ohio Blue Ribbon Arson Committee at 1-800-589-2728.
