Plum Police say a man who was evicted from his home in January returned late last month to set it ablaze.
William Lee Gildernew, 23, is facing felony charges of arson, burglary, risking a catastrophe and criminal mischief. There is a warrant out for his arrest.
In mid-January, the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office evicted Gildernew from his Havana Drive home because it was being taken over by PNC Bank, according to a criminal complaint filed against Gildernew.
County land records show the home had belonged to members of the Gildernew family since 1963.
On Feb. 25, police said, camera footage captured Gildernew arriving at Havana Drive just after noon to visit a friend before entering his former home through the back door.
By 1:15 p.m., Gildernew had departed the scene before white smoke began pouring out of the house, according to the complaint.
He returned to the home soon after and spoke to neighbors on the street as it burned, the complaint said.
When questioned by police, Gildernew initially said he left for the store before realizing he didn’t have any money and returning to find the house ablaze, police said.
But when police informed him of the camera footage, the complaint said, he admitted to entering the home.
When a Plum detective suggested Gildernew went inside and unsuccessfully attempted to start a fire, exited the home and returned inside where a mattress had caught fire, Gildernew said the account was “pretty accurate” and laughed, according to police.
He said he had a lighter but didn’t clearly remember setting the fire, the complaint said.
The home, valued at $100,000, will likely have to be destroyed, police said.
Holiday Park VFD Chief Jim Sims previously told TribLive the blaze appeared to have begun in a bedroom and was fairly easily contained.
No injuries were reported as a result of the fire, he said.
