Trial Looms for Woman Suspected of Setting Fire to North Canton Home

Rose Ann Butts, 41, of Akron, is accused of setting a home on fire at 516 McKinley Ave. April 12, 2012

The woman accused of setting her former North Canton home on fire could stand trial for arson next month, if attorneys don't reach a plea bargain first. Rose Ann Butts, 41, of Akron, is slated to appear in Stark County Common Pleas Court for a final pretrial hearing at 8:30 a.m. April 1, according to her online case docket. Her trial is expected for the week of April 15 in the courtroom of Judge Taryn L. Heath. A Stark County grand jury indicted Butts on three counts of aggravated arson, all second-degree felonies, in mid-February and officials from the Stark County Sheriff’s Office executed an arrest warrant for Butts shortly after.  Police suspect she set fire to a home at 516 McKinley Ave. SE on April 12, 2012. That fire spread to the …

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Police Say Akron Woman Set Fire to North Canton Home

Police have arrested Rose Ann Butts, 41, after a 10-month long investigation into a North Canton house fire

Police Arrest McKinley Avenue Arson Suspect

The arson took place at 516 McKinley Ave. SE in North Canton April 12

Police arrested Rose Ann Butts, 41, of Akron, who's suspected of setting fire to a North Canton home in April 2012. A Stark County grand jury recently indicted Butts on three counts of aggravated arson, all second-degree felonies, and officials from the Stark County Sheriff’s Office executed an arrest warrant for Butts Thursday.  Police suspect she set fire to a home at 516 McKinley Ave. SE on April 12. That fire spread to the home next door, 520 McKinley Ave. SE and even damaged the home at 512 McKinley Ave. The fire injured no one but did displace a young family living at 520 McKinley Ave. Investigators had found a "medium petroleum distillate" or "mineral spirits" doused on the back porch of 516 McKinley Ave. Samples of debris were …

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Arson Cause of McKinley Avenue Fires

There's a $5,000 reward for any information leading to the identification of the person or persons responsible for the April 12 fire

North Canton fire officials have classified the April 12 fires in the 500 block of McKinley Avenue as arson after sending debris from the fires to the State Fire Marshal's Office last week. The fire originated at 516 McKinley Ave. SE and spread to the home next door — 520 McKinley Ave. SE. It also damaged the home at 512 McKinley Ave. Fire Inspector Scott Kelly and Detective Randy Manse of the North Canton Police Department are still gathering information from neighbors and residents of 516 McKinley Ave. SE, according to a news release sent out today. A Blue Ribbon Arson Committee sign is posted on the door offering a $5,000 reward for any information leading to the identification of the person or persons responsible for this fire. Any …

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