Officials say woman set fire in crowded apartment, now on the run

Friday, August 12, 2011
© Copyright 2013 Gwinnett Daily Post

Photo by Kristen Ralph

SNELLVILLE -- Authorities have charged a Stone Mountain woman with intentionally setting her daughter's boyfriend's wardrobe ablaze in a residence crowded with people, including four children.

Mia Hamer, 46, faces felony arson charges in the Friday afternoon incident at an apartment in the 2200 block of Highpoint Road in Snellville. She remained at large Thursday, after agreeing to turn herself in a day prior, said Gwinnett Fire Department spokesman Capt. Thomas Rutledge.

Trouble started with a domestic dispute between Hamer and her daughter's boyfriend, who lives at the apartment. As the boyfriend was in the shower, Hamer set fire to his clothing in a bedroom closet, Rutledge said.

Three adults and four children in the residence escaped unharmed, and firefighters confined the blaze to the closet, sparing the unit from structural damage, Rutledge said.

The boyfriend and Hamer's daughter have a child together, but Rutledge said the exact motive behind the woman's actions is still under investigation.

"Fire investigators are attempting to track (Hamer) down and hope to have her in custody soon," Rutledge said. "We were told she was going to turn herself in to Gwinnett authorities ... but that never occurred."

Authorities ask anyone with information on Hamer's whereabouts to contact Gwinnett Fire investigators at 678-518-4890.

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