Daniel Prince
Woman admits to starting fire in a camper in Ottaray
A Union woman has been arrested on an arson charge. The incident occurred Monday, August 8, in Ottaray. A deputy reported that the camper beside 117 5th Street in Ottaray was engulfed in flames. Over the course of the investigation, video footage was obtained showing someone inside the camper and leaving before the fire started. Based on information investigators received through a conversation with an unidentified person, along with information learned at the Palmetto Motor Inn, investigators believed that two people were dropped off near the fence at the corner room at the Palmetto Motor Inn, and they then walked up the hill toward Pinckney Place Apartments. The mother of one of the subjects lived there, and the manager and maintenance man had both seen a white female and another person there on numerous occasions.
Investigators Humphries and Suber went to the apartment and asked if the subject, identified as Chasity Gilkinson, was in the apartment, and the woman said yes. Gilkinson then came to the door and invited the officers in. They asked if she would go to the sheriff’s office and talk to them, and she said she would, if they would give her a ride. While on the way to the sheriff’s office, she asked if this was about the fire at the camper. She was advised to wait until arriving at the sheriff’s office before talking.
Once at the sheriff’s office, Captain Scott Coffer joined Humphries and Suber in interviewing Gilkinson. She later gave a written statement. Based on the interview and written statement, it was determined that Gilkinson started the fire. She was shown the video footage and stated that she was inside the camper and left before the fire started. 33-year-old Chasity Hope Gilkinson was arrested Sunday afternoon and charged with third-degree arson. Gilkinson was released on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond.