Harrison Jones; the Bensalem, Pennsylvania property that was set on fire. Bensalem Police Facebook
A Michigan man went to extreme lengths to get revenge on a romantic rival—driving more than 700 miles and over 11 hours to allegedly set fire to a Pennsylvania home, endangering six lives in the process.
The suspect, 23-year-old Harrison Jones of Rockford, Michigan, was arrested and charged with six counts of attempted homicide after allegedly setting a home in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, ablaze in the early hours of Feb. 10, according to police.
A Devastating Fire and a Lucky Escape
Around 5:22 a.m., emergency crews rushed to the burning house on Merganser Way. The fire engulfed the two-story home, forcing six adults to flee—some even jumping from second-story windows to escape. Sadly, two dogs died in the blaze. All six residents were taken to nearby hospitals with injuries.
Authorities quickly determined the fire was no accident. Surveillance footage from a nearby home captured a black sedan arriving in the neighborhood minutes before the fire started. A man was seen getting out, carrying an object, and heading toward the house. Fifteen minutes later, he ran back to his car and sped away—just as smoke and flames erupted from the home.
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A Digital Trail Leads to an Arrest
Detectives tracked the suspect’s getaway car, a 2021 black Volkswagen Passat, using Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR). The vehicle was registered to Brian Jones, who lived at the same address as the suspect.
Investigators then spoke to the people living in the burned-down home and uncovered a possible motive: a love triangle. One of the residents, a 21-year-old man, had been talking online with a woman from Michigan and was planning to meet her in person for the first time that week. Jones, it turned out, was the woman’s ex-boyfriend.
With help from the Kent County Sheriff’s Office in Michigan, police searched Jones’ home and found the Volkswagen, lock-picking tools, a cell phone, and a computer. Officers also noted that he had burns on his arm.
Jones was taken into custody and is now facing multiple charges, including attempted criminal homicide, arson, and risking catastrophe. He is awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania.
Bensalem police credited the arrest to careful detective work, saying even a “grainy image of a vehicle” helped crack the case.
The investigation is still ongoing.
