Georgia woman accused of setting fire to her house to collect insurance money

Rebecca Lynn Abernathy

Rebecca Lynn Abernathy

A North Georgia woman has been charged with arson and insurance fraud after she allegedly set fire to her home to receive insurance money.

Rebecca Lynn Abernathy, 49, was arrested Wednesday and booked into the Habersham County Jail, according to Glenn Allen of the state insurance commissioner’s office.

About 12:30 a.m. on Jan. 21, Abernathy intentionally set fire to the home in the 4000 block of Cannon Bridge Road in Demorest, Allen said in a statement. She later filed an insurance claim with State Farm that could have brought her up to $240,000.

Abernathy could face from one to 20 years in prison and up to $50,000 in fines if she is convicted.

“Arson is a crime that puts our residents and first responders at tremendous risk,” Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner Ralph Hudgens said in a statement.

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