Indy woman charged with arson in connection to recent fires across the city

INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis woman has been charged with several felonies in connection with at least two fires in the city over the last few months.

Kellie C. Willoughby, 30, was formally charged on Friday with six counts of felony arson and one count of felony criminal recklessness.

The Indianapolis Fire Department said the charges are the result of an “extensive, multi-month” investigation by IFD and IMPD.

“This is a pivotal moment in a challenging investigation that has demanded immense dedication and resources from our department and partners,” IFD’s Vernon Garard said. “The filing of formal charges underscores the severity of these crimes.”

Court documents filed Friday in Marion County Court detail two fires that Willoughby is allegedly responsible for. These include:

• Garage Fire
  • Date: Jan. 20, 2025
  • Location: South Traub Avenue
  • Damage: $5,000+
  • Injuries: None
• Occupied Camper Fire
  • Date: Feb. 3, 2025
  • Location: S. Belmont Avenue
  • Damage: $5,000+
  • Injuries: Burns on occupant’s hands

During an interview with police on Feb. 20, Willoughby reportedly admitted she knew the address of the first fire and said she knew who lived there, describing the resident as a “wh*re.” One witness said they heard Willoughby say she was “going to burn this b****’s house down.”

Furthermore, Willoughby reportedly admitted to being in a relationship with the owner of the camper that was damaged in the second fire. The victim later identified Willoughby as the person who purposefully started the fire and caused his injuries.

In both cases, investigators determined that the fires had been intentionally set and that they both endangered human lives. Given this, one of her arson charges in Marion Superior Court 29 is “arson resulting in bodily injury” – a level 3 felony. The other arson charges are level 4 felonies.

Jail records do not indicate that Willoughby has been arrested in Marion County yet. However, an initial hearing in her case is scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday in front of Judge Charles F. Miller.

Online court records show that Willoughby has some criminal history in Indiana that includes battery, battery in front of a child, battery on a public safety official, criminal mischief, possession of a syringe and more.