Authorities in central Illinois have issued an arrest warrant for a businessman they allege burned down his auto and tire shop last year.
The State Journal-Register in Springfield reported the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department has issued an arrest warrant on arson charges for 38-year-old Ryan E. Payne of Hillsboro.
Payne is the owner of Payne’s Tire and Auto in Schram City.
Montgomery County Undersheriff Rick Robbins alleges Payne burned down the business and duped the public into thinking it was an accident.
Payne owned the auto and tire business with his wife, Christina. Robbins said she has not been charged. However, he added the investigation is continuing.
Robbins said after the fire in May, Payne used insurance money to rebuild on the same site. The business and a restaurant that opened in December have since closed.
Topics Illinois
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Harbor Emerges From Stealth with $10M Funding to Handle AI-Agent Risk 
Banking Watchdogs Ramp Up AI Scrutiny as Stability Fears Mount, Sources Say 
Supervisor’s Punching of Employees Enough for Tort Suit, NC Appeals Court Says 
Broad AI Exclusions in Insurance Policies Could Create Uncertainty, Marsh CEO Says 
