NEWS RELEASE
MAN ARRESTED, CHARGED WITH ARSON AND ATTEMPTED HOMICIDE
Durham, N.C., Dec. 19, 2013—A Rougemont man has been arrested and charged with arson and attempted homicide after he was caught in the act of trying to start another man’s house on fire.
Deputies responded to a residence in the 11000 block of Wilkins Road in Bahama at 11 p.m. Tuesday after James Mangum called 911 to report that someone had just tried to light his house on fire. Mangum told responding deputies that he was inside his home and smelled smoke. When he went outside to investigate, he found Connie Huff Blanchard, 65, attempting to ignite a house fire using a blow torch. Mangum confronted Blanchard and the two fought over control of the blow torch. Blanchard fled the area after the fight and Mangum remained at his residence to extinguish the fire.
Deputies later located Blanchard at his home at 5123 Bahama Rd in Rougemont, and he admitted to starting a fire at Mangum’s home. Blanchard sustained numerous injuries during his fight with Mangum that caused two black eyes and facial swelling. He was evaluated on scene by emergency medical personnel—who determined his injuries were non-life threatening—prior to being arrested and taken to the Durham County Jail.
Blanchard has been charged with first degree arson and attempted first degree murder. He is being held in the Durham County Jail under a $1 million bond.
Deputies learned during the investigation that Mangum and Blanchard know each other, but Blanchard’s motive for starting the fire is still under investigation. Mangum has not been charged with any crimes related to the fight between him and Blanchard.
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