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A York County man, Eric Smith, 61, faces charges of attempted homicide after allegedly setting fire to a home in Conewago Township on Sunday (August 2). According to police, Smith assaulted his wife and dragged her toward the fire he started in the house, which was in her name. The victim managed to escape and call 911.
The Northern York County Regional Police Department responded to the incident on Matthew Drive. Upon arrival, they found the victim, who reported that Smith had physically assaulted her before setting the house ablaze. Smith reportedly admitted to starting the fire and attempting to kill his wife.
The couple was in the process of divorcing, and the victim planned to move to Florida that day. She had agreed to give Smith approximately $11,850 from the sale of the house, which angered him. During the confrontation, Smith allegedly punched and strangled his wife before dragging her to the source of the fire. Despite his attempts to trap her in the laundry room, she managed to escape and seek help from a neighbor.
Investigators determined that the fire originated in an unfinished room near the laundry room, where they found a can of paint thinner. Smith is currently held in York County Prison, unable to post $200,000 bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 14.