TWO EASTERN SHORE RESIDENTS CHARGED IN STRING OF ACCOMACK COUNTY ARSONS

From: Virginia State Police

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MELFA, Va. – The Accomack County Sheriff’s Office and Virginia State Police placed two Eastern Shore residents under arrest Tuesday (April 2, 2013) in Accomack County on charges related to the serial arsons plaguing Accomack County since November 2012. Charles R. Smith III, (alias: Charles Applegate) 38, of Parksley, Va., and Tonya S. Bundick, 40, of Parksley, Va., are being held without bond at the Accomack County Jail.

Through the course of the investigation, a minivan was observed in connection with the Monday night (April 1, 2013) fire of a vacant, residential structure in the 19,300 block of Airport Drive in Melfa. The fire was reported at approximately 11:40 p.m. Shortly after midnight, a state trooper and sheriff’s deputy initiated a traffic stop on the minivan at the intersection of Airport Drive and Route 13. The two individuals were taken into custody without incident.

“Based on evidence collected since this morning and during the course of the investigations over the past five months, we are confident that Bundick and Smith are responsible for the majority of the fires set since November 12th of last year,” said Capt. Tim Reibel, Commander of the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) Chesapeake Field Office. “As of this afternoon, Bundick and Smith have each been charged with one count of arson and one count of conspiracy to commit arson for last night’s fire in Melfa. In consultation with  Mr. Agar, the Commonwealth’s Attorney, additional charges for the remaining fires will be forthcoming very soon.”

Since November 12, 2013, the Virginia State Police BCI Chesapeake Field Office and Accomack County Sheriff’s Office have been investigating arson fires that have targeted abandoned and/or vacant residential and commercial structures throughout the county. No injuries resulted from any of the arsons. Additional fires have included debris and tires.

“I want to express my sincere appreciation to the residents of Accomack County,” said Accomack County Sheriff Todd Godwin. “Our residents have been so supportive and patient throughout a very extensive and arduous process of investigating these arsons.

We especially thank our Eastern Shore residents for all the calls and tips they have provided over the past five months related to these crimes.”

 “The State Police thank Accomack County Sheriff Todd Godwin and his investigators and deputies for their hard work and collaboration with responding to and investigating these fires,” said Capt. Reibel. “Also deserving our many thanks are the 12 volunteer fire departments who serve and protect Accomack County. These men and women have responded to every one of these fires with the potential risk of serious injury or worse. They have dedicated a tremendous amount of resources and time to fighting the fires and assisting law enforcement with our investigations and we are most appreciative.”

The local police departments up and down the Eastern Shore have also dedicated numerous resources to assist with the investigation, along with the Virginia Department of Fire Programs, ATF and FBI.
 
The investigation remains ongoing at this time. Anyone Anyone  with information about these two individuals relating to the arsons or just the arsons in general is still encouraged to call or text the Accomack County Arson Tip Line at 757-655-1437.