Woman faces arson charge

Workers from the Youngstown Hearing and Speech Center assisted the woman.

By ED RUNYAN

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

AUSTINTOWN — A woman who cannot speak or hear called 911 Tuesday afternoon to report a fire in her kitchen, and was later charged with arson after indicating she “possibly” set the fire herself.

Andy Frost, assistant Austintown Township fire chief, said the woman’s inability to speak has made the case unusual — but the woman did indicate that she “possibly set the fire,” which is why the charges were filed.

Frost said Austintown firefighters used water to extinguish a small trash fire in the kitchen of Lynda A. Mrofchak, 40, of 104 North Main Street, about 1:05 p.m. Tuesday.

The fire caused about $600 worth of damage, mostly from smoke, Frost said.

Mrofchak was arraigned Wednesday morning in Mahoning County Court in Austintown on a charge of aggravated arson, a first-degree felony. Judge Joseph Houser set bond at $50,000. The penalty for the offense is up to 10 years in prison upon conviction.

An Austintown police dispatcher received a call from Sorenson Video Relay Service at about 1:05 p.m. Tuesday. Sorenson is a national company that makes phone calls to assist people who have difficulties speaking or hearing. The company was relaying information it got from Mrofchak about the fire, Austintown police said.

The fire was extinguished quickly and caused no injuries, Frost said, noting that Mrofchak was the only person home when firefighters arrived.

When firefighters asked Mrofchak what happened, she indicated by writing messages to them that she “possibly” set the fire, Frost said. Evidence was recovered at the scene to suggest the method of ignition, Frost said, refusing to elaborate.

Frost said investigators so far have uncovered no explanation for why the woman set the fire.

Two workers at the Youngstown Hearing and Speech Center in Boardman were called to help the woman communicate with firefighters and an officer from the Austintown Police Department, Frost said.

An employee from the hearing and speech center also accompanied the woman to her arraignment Wednesday, he said. She had no attorney at the hearing, Frost said.

The woman is set for a preliminary hearing in the Austintown area court at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday.