TEXARKANA, Texas -A Bowie County grand jury issued an indictment Thursday for a local woman accused of setting a house fire which seriously injured a resident.
Sherelle Simone Hurd, 33, allegedly made statements in the weeks leading up to May 20 blaze in the 1000 block of Daniels Chapel Road in New Boston about burning the fire victim's home with him inside, according to a probable cause affidavit.
The house's occupant, referred to in the affidavit as Hurd's uncle, allegedly told investigators he and Hurd had argued and that he had told her to pack her belongings and move out. He allegedly told investigators Hurd said she was going to "burn this damn house down."
The fire victim reported he was resting on a couch when he began to "smell smoke and feel heat." Smoke was reportedly escaping from around the door of the bedroom Hurd had used. When he opened the door, the man was severely burned in a flashover.
Burns to the man's head, ears and face were severe and caused his right eye to swell shut. After being treated in a Texarkana hospital, he was transferred to the burn unit of a hospital in Little Rock, Ark.
A neighbor reported seeing Hurd in an angry state, walking down the road, shortly before she saw smoke and flames coming from a house across the street.
Other witnesses allegedly told police Hurd had been heard making threats of arson.
"(The witness) stated Sherelle Hurd had been bragging all over town to people she was going to burn her uncle alive and burn his house down," the affidavit states.
Bowie County Fire Marshal Scottie Taylor determined the fire was arson. According to court records, Hurd is also being held on two counts of misdemeanor trespassing with offense dates of May 31 and June 5. Personal recognizance bonds of $3,000 have been set in those cases, which are pending before County Court at Law Judge Craig Henry.
Hurd's bail on the arson case is set at $200,000 and she remains in the Bowie County jail.
The arson case has been assigned to 202nd District Judge John Tidwell. If convicted of arson with serious bodily injury, Hurd faces five to 99 years or life in prison.
She is expected to appear for arraignment later this month.