Florida Home Torched With Gasoline After Insurance Policy Was Increased To Over $1M

A Jay man charged with arson and insurance fraud is accused of drastically increasing the coverage of his home’s insurance policy not long before dousing the house in gasoline and setting it on fire.

Michael Jameson, 43, was arrested Wednesday and charged with two counts of arson and two counts of insurance fraud. He was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail with a $275,000 bond. County records indicated he remained in custody as of Thursday.

According to an arrest report, a detective with the Florida Department of Financial Services’ Bureau of Insurance Fraud launched investigation into Jameson after evidence was discovered in the ashen rubble of his house suggesting he intentionally sent fire to his own home.

Appraiser records show that the house at 4391 Curt Lane in Jay was purchased under the name of Jameson’s wife in June 2019. The same home was consumed by a fire in August 2019.

The report stated that before the house was even purchased by Jameson and his family, he sent an email to an insurance agent asking, “Can we increase the policy on the Curt Lane property?"