Father, Friend Charged In Fatal Arson-Insurance Scheme

A botched arson-for-hire plot left a Scranton man dead and his father and a homeowner charged with murder. It was a simple plan, police said. Brett Sweeting Jr., 26, would set fire to Chad Kenowski’s home at 52 Roosevelt St. in Scranton, then flee the blaze with his father and getaway driver, Brett Sweeting Sr. The scheme would net the trio a hefty payout from Kenowski’s insurance, but something went wrong. Sweeting Jr. accidentally set off an explosion as he poured gasoline throughout the home on June 25, killing himself in the resulting inferno.