Utah Man Accused of Setting His Ex-Wife's House on Fire Three Times in a Month While Her Children Slept Inside By Liam Quinn

A Utah man was charged with attempted murder after he allegedly tried to burn his ex-wife’s house down on multiple occasions.

Delmar Barney was arrested on suspicion of two counts of attempted murder and three counts of aggravated arson, according to reports from KSL, Fox 13 and Gephardt Daily.

KSL reported, citing police, that it all began with a fire on Sept. 11, discovered outside the home of Barney’s ex-wife in Richfield, Utah.

Katey Barney, Delmar’s ex-wife, told Fox 13, that she wasn’t home at the time of the first fire, but that her kids were.

“So I called my babysitter who was with my kids,” Katey told the station. “I said, ‘Can you just go look outside and see if anything’s on fire?’”

The first fire went out on its own, she reportedly said. Afterward, Katey told the outlet she installed security cameras.

Days later, KSL reported that another fire started outside the home, about which Katey also spoke to Fox 13.

“I got woken up to a big loud bang and heard some scuffling,” she told Fox 13. “I could smell gas and then smoke, seen the fire and then called 911.”

Police told Fox 13 that on a third occasion, the suspect seemed to notice the camera and left without starting a fire. But, according to the outlets, the suspect would return.

Citing police, KSL, ABC 4 and Fox 13 reported that on Sept. 22, Delmar Barney allegedly came back a fourth time and threw a Molotov cocktail into Katey’s bedroom while her children were sleeping.

“It’s a miracle she’s okay,” Richfield police Chief Trent Lloyd told Fox 13. “We’re lucky that no one was hurt.”

ABC 4, citing court documents, said that she recognized the suspect’s walk, which was caught on camera, as her ex-husband’s, leading to his arrest.

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Jail records indicate that Delmar Barney was taken into custody in Sevier County.

Katey had already had a protective order against Delmar, KSL reported.

“I know arson cases are really hard to solve sometimes, but I’m glad that they were able to get enough to make an arrest,” she told ABC 4. “And I can rest solidly easier knowing that it’s not going to happen anymore.”