Former Ga. Restaurant Owner Admits Torching Business
A former Georgia restaurant owner has pleaded guilty to burning down her business to collect insurance money.
Peggy Lorraine Parr of Valdosta admitted in court that she set fire to The Catfish House in Adel on Jan. 16, 2003. She was sentenced to 11 years and will serve between 14 and 18 months in a detention center, District Attorney Cathy Helms said.
Parr was ordered to pay $25,000 to Cook County and make restitution to the insurance company and to the current owner, since there was a second mortgage on the property. The loss of the restaurant was estimated at $850,000.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the state fire marshal's office found that employee Jennifer Barnes was with Parr during the incident. Barnes was also indicted, but the case against her was dismissed last week. Helms said there was no evidence Barnes was involved in or profited from the arson.
The Valdosta Daily Times reported that various employees said Parr and Barnes were the only people inside when the last workers left less than 10 minutes before the building was set on fire.
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