Teen charged with attempted murder, arson

Published 6:58 pm Monday, November 5, 2012

A 17-year-old Atmore resident is facing serious charges after a fight over a cell phone allegedly led her to attempt to burn down a home.

Alexis D. Thomas, of James Road in Atmore, was arrested and charged with arson and attempted murder Wednesday by Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies after they received a call from the girl’s sister, according to deputy Greg Forbes.

Forbes said the sister, who was also caring for a two-year-old child at the time, said Thomas was upset because a battery had been removed from her cell phone and was outside dousing the trailer with gasoline. The sister reported that Thomas lit a paper towel on fire and attempted to ignite the home, but was unsuccessful.

Forbes said the girl reported Thomas’ boyfriend attempted to stop her from reapplying gasoline to the home, at which point she also poured the fluid onto his person.

Forbes said Thomas fled the scene after the alleged arson attempts and was later spotted in a nearby wood line. She was arrested by deputies after breaking into the home of her aunt, approximately a quarter-mile from the scene of the incident Forbes said.

Thomas was transported to the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton.