Pa. man sets fire to multiple homes to ‘kill the spiders,’ police say

A Pennsylvania man is accused of arson after setting his Monroe County home on fire to “kill the spiders,” according to police. The Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department said Sean McDermott, 36, set his townhome in the 600 block of Uncas Lane in Pocono Pines on fire, which destroyed several neighboring homes. A witness reported seeing McDermott repeatedly lighting small fires inside his home throughout the day on Monday. Police said McDermott had a smoldering fire burning on the floor and then placed a loveseat on top of it. The witness told officers he attempted several times to extinguish the fires, but McDermott continued to relight them.’He needed to kill the spiders,’ police sayAccording to the police report, McDermott stated that “he needed to kill the spiders within the residence.”Eventually, the fire spread out of control and consumed three other homes connected to McDermott’s. Fire crews battled the blaze for about eight hours, facing high winds, ice and frigid temperatures before bringing it under control.McDermott was charged with felony arson and aggravated arson.Stay with WGAL for updates as we learn more. See news happening? Send us your photos or videos if it’s safe to do so at https://www.wgal.com/upload.

POCONO PINES, Pa. —

A Pennsylvania man is accused of arson after setting his Monroe County home on fire to “kill the spiders,” according to police.

The Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department said Sean McDermott, 36, set his townhome in the 600 block of Uncas Lane in Pocono Pines on fire, which destroyed several neighboring homes.

A witness reported seeing McDermott repeatedly lighting small fires inside his home throughout the day on Monday.

Police said McDermott had a smoldering fire burning on the floor and then placed a loveseat on top of it.

The witness told officers he attempted several times to extinguish the fires, but McDermott continued to relight them.

‘He needed to kill the spiders,’ police say

According to the police report, McDermott stated that “he needed to kill the spiders within the residence.”

Eventually, the fire spread out of control and consumed three other homes connected to McDermott’s.

Fire crews battled the blaze for about eight hours, facing high winds, ice and frigid temperatures before bringing it under control.

McDermott was charged with felony arson and aggravated arson.

Stay with WGAL for updates as we learn more.

See news happening? Send us your photos or videos if it’s safe to do so at https://www.wgal.com/upload.