Georgia Man Accused of Burning Down Neighbor’s House Because the Lawn Wasn’t Mowed

A 58 year old Georgia man  is accused of setting his neighbor’s house on fire because the grass was too high.  The neighbor and his little girl were inside the house at the time.

Phillip Roger Bennett, thought the neighbor Marty Corbitt, needed to cut the lawn.  Marty said Phillip  slapped him in the face and yelled at him to cut the grass on Wednesday before he completely lost it.

Marty says, “He kicks my door, tells me I’ve got five seconds to come outside.  I turn around and call 911.  And while I’m on the phone he comes back with two gas cans in his hand.  Walks up to my kitchen door again, takes a gas can, smashes it against the glass, breaks the first pane.  Then he turns around and grabs a brick, throws it through the window. And then he grabs a gas can and starts pouring it into the kitchen. And as he’s pouring he takes his lighter and lights it. And flames were everywhere. I ran back to my little girl’s room, grabbed her, ran out the back door over to my neighbor’s and watched the house burn.”

Corbitt says he and his family fled unharmed, but the flames destroyed everything else. The Corbitts are now staying with relatives.

U.S. Marshals arrested  Bennett, Thursday in Murphy, N.C., which is about halfway between Atlanta and Knoxville, Tenn.
Bennett  is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of criminal damage to property, damaging public utilities, cruelty to children, second degree burglary, reckless conduct, criminal trespass, terroristic threats and possession of tools in the commission of a crime.