Whatcom County woman allegedly sets three fires in RV with man still inside
A Whatcom County woman is suspected of setting two fires inside and a third outside a recreational vehicle that she shared with a male partner while he was still inside. Though the man put out the two fires inside, the third destroyed the RV.
The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office booked Kasandra De Marie Cruz, 33, into Whatcom County Jail on suspicion of second-degree arson (domestic violence), and jail records show she is being held without bail.
Deputies responded to the 5100 block of Samish Way near the North Samish exit of Interstate 5 at approximately 4 a.m. Monday for the report of a domestic verbal disagreement and a vehicle fire, sheriff’s office spokesperson Deb Slater told The Bellingham Herald in an email.
Deputies arrived and spoke to Cruz, who told them she had been living in the RV with the man for the past six months, Slater said.
Deputies also spoke to the man and learned that Cruz had started two fires inside the RV, which the man was able to put out with his feet, Slater said. But she started a third on the outside of the RV that ultimately destroyed it.
Cruz admitted to deputies that the man was in the RV when she started the fire outside.
Whatcom County Superior Court records show Cruz is awaiting a jury trial, scheduled to begin Nov. 2, for charges of second-degree assault and third-degree theft from an incident that occurred June 23, 2019, in Bellingham. She also has previous convictions for possession of stolen property, possession of methamphetamine, criminal impersonation and forgery since 2008.
