Mother and Son Convicted of Arson Insurance Scheme

A Fort Collins, Colo., mother and son have been sentenced to prison for setting their home on fire with hopes of collecting an insurance payout.

The Coloradoan reports that 53-year-old Kellie Lawson-Welborne and 34-year-old Christopher Welborne pleaded guilty in July to starting the 2012 fire. Then mother was sentenced to 10 years in prison, and the son was sentenced to eight years.

Court documents showed the family had unusually high contents coverage of $350,000 and had attempted or made five separate claims to Farmers Insurance the previous year.

Another son living at the house said he could smell a strong odor of rubbing alcohol as they left the house to go on a “spontaneous family picnic.” The fire was reported about 20 to 30 minutes later.