Press Release

January 17, 2022

On March 27^th 2021 at approximately 10:22 P.M. the Wallace County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting a fire located at 1780 Kansas Highway 27. The fire was located in a shelter belt. The Wallace County fire department responded and put the fire out.

On the morning March 28th, 2021 Fire Chief Jay Sharp asked me to meet him at the location of the fire at 1780 Kansas Highway 27. Fire Chief Sharp did not believe that this fire was the result of natural causes. I agreed with Chief Sharp and we agreed that he would contact the State Fire Marshal’s office, which he did. Later that afternoon we met again at the 1780 Kansas Highway 27 location with two Fire Marshals and an arson dog capable of detecting accelerants. During this investigation the dog was able to detect several areas where an accelerant may have been used to start the fire confirming Chief Sharp’s suspicion that this fire was the result of an arsonist. During this investigation it was also discovered to believe that the arsonist had cut all the garden hoses in the location of the fire multiple times so as to ensure that if the fire was discovered no one could attempt to put the fire out using the hoses. At this time, I contacted Undersheriff Lance Finley and asked him to take over the investigation on the part of the Wallace County Sheriff’s Office and to work closely with the Kansas Fire Marshal’s office and Chief Sharp.

On March 30^th 2021 at approximately 03:46 P.M. the Wallace County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting a fire located in the south ditch on Rocky Road just north of the 1780 Kansas Highway 27 location. The Wallace County fire department responded, putting out the fire while being mindful to not drive over tire tracks or destroy other potential evidence. Believing that this fire was also the result of an arsonist, the Kansas Fire Marshal was again contacted. During this investigation an incendiary device was discovered and collected. The Fire Marshal determined this fire was an arson.

Also, later in the afternoon on March 30^th 2021, it was reported to the Wallace County Sheriff’s Office of a possible arson attempt located at 408 Main Street in Sharon Springs. This was investigated by the Wallace County Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas Fire Marshal’s Office and the Wallace County fire department. This attempted fire was also determined to be that of an arsonist.

The Wallace County Sheriff’s Office in their investigation had created a list of suspected suspects for the arsonist. The Wallace County Sheriff’s office through surveillance, interviews, and other investigative techniques were able to eliminate this list down to one suspect. On March 31^st 2021 believing that we had enough probable cause, we applied for a tracking warrant for this suspect’s vehicle. This tracking warrant was granted and signed by a district judge and during the night of March 31^st 2021 members of the Wallace County Sheriff’s office were able to attach the tracking device to the suspect’s vehicle.

On April 1^st 2021 the tracking device was activated once the suspect’s vehicle started to move. The suspects’ vehicle was then tracked on Undersheriff’s Finley’s cell phone, my cell phone and by another member of the Wallace County Sheriff’s Office on a lap top in the sheriff’ office. During the day it became apparent to us that we had the right suspect and that they were more than likely planning another arson attempt for this night. When the suspect’s vehicle appeared to be approaching the area of 1780 Kansas Highway 27, Undersheriff Finley got into position and waited. Undersheriff Finley had also contacted Chief Sharp and the Wallace County Fire Department was on stand-by and ready to roll as soon as Undersheriff Finley relayed for them to do so. Undersheriff Finley from his position was able to observe the suspect’s vehicle enter the property at 1780 Kansas Highway 27. Undersheriff Finley observed the suspected arsonist exit the vehicle and enter a shelter belt located on the property of 1780 Kansas Highway 27. Soon after entering the shelter belt, Undersheriff Finley observed a fire starting in the shelter belt and the suspect exiting the shelter belt. Undersheriff Finley then relayed to Chief Sharp the fire and attempted to apprehend the suspect who was attempting to flee the scene. Undersheriff Finley was able to get the suspect stopped and apprehended. The Wallace County fire department was able to get the fire out.

The suspect was identified as Michele A Howell who at the time of her arrest had an address of 317 Ferlen Avenue Sharon Springs, Kansas. Michele A Howell was charged with 2 counts of aggravated arson, 1 count of arson, 1 count of attempted arson, 1 count of fleeing or attempting to flee a law enforcement officer, 2 counts of criminal trespass, and 1 count of criminal damage to property. Michele A Howell had a bond set at $350,000.00 and has been in the custody of the Wallace County Sheriff’s office since her arrest on April 1^st 2021.

On December 2^nd 2021 Michele A Howell waived her right to a preliminary hearing and her arraignment was set for December 10th, 2021.

On December 10^th, 2021 Michele A Howell pled no contest to two counts of Aggravated Arson, a level 3-person felony. All other charges were dismissed as this was a part of the plea agreement. Judge Scott Showalter then found Michele A Howell guilty of both counts. Michele A Howell’s sentencing was set for January 13^th, 2022.  

On January 13^th, 2022 Michele A Howell was sentenced in Wallace County District Court to 50 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections for women in Topeka, Kansas.

On January 18^th, 2022 Deputies from the Wallace County Sheriff’s Office transported Michele A Howell to the Kansas Department of Corrections in Topeka to begin serving her sentence. She had been incarcerated in the Wallace County Jail for 292 days.

At this time, I would like to thank my staff, my Undersheriff Lance Finley, Fire Chief Jay Sharp and the Wallace County fire departments, the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s office, as well as the Wallace County Attorney Charles Moser and his office in bringing this case to a successful conclusion.

Marshall Ray Unruh, Sheriff Wallace County Kansas