Bend woman arrested on arson, animal abuse charges, accused of setting her home on fire, killing two cats

(Update: Adding video and comments from neighbors)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A 65-year-old Bend woman was arrested on arson and animal abuse charges early Sunday morning, accused of starting a fire in the kitchen that killed two cats, police said Monday.

Around 1:35 a.m. on Sunday, Bend Police responded to a report of a home on fire at a manufactured home in the 19900 block of Waterfall Lane in the Romaine Village area, Communications Manager Sheila Miller said.

When officers arrived, they found the home’s two occupants and a dog outside the residence, Miller said.

An investigation determined that one of the home’s residents, a 65-year-old woman, had deliberately started a fire in the kitchen, Miller said. The home’s other occupant called 911 to report the blaze. Two cats died in the fire.  

Bend Police took the woman into custody and took her to St. Charles Bend for evaluation. When she is released, Miller said the woman will be booked into the Deschutes County Jail on suspicion of first-degree arson and two counts of first-degree animal abuse.  

This incident remains under investigation, Miller said. 

KTVZ News policy is not to name arrested individuals until and unless formal charges are filed.

Deputy Fire Marshal Cindy Kettering told KTVZ News the fire caused $30,000 in damage to the structure and $10,000 in losses to contents.

When KTVZ visited the scene on Monday, concerned neighbors said the woman had a history of disturbing behavior in the neighborhood. They showed us recent posts reportedly made by the the woman on Nextdoor social media platform, where she mentioned having mental health issues.