Arson Investigation: Vehicle Falsely Reported Stolen and Set on Fire

The 2006 Kia Sorento after being set on fire, courtesy of the Colchester Police Department.

A falsely reported stolen motor-vehicle that had been set on fire sparked a more than year-long investigation by the Colchester Police Department, assisted by the State Fire Marshal's Office, the Colchester Fire Marshal and the Connecticut State Police.

On September 4, 2014, a 2006 Kia Sorento was reported stolen by a 54-year-old Colchester woman. Together with her two alleged accomplices,  a 38-year-old East Haddam man and a 31-year-old East Hampton man, the trio reportedly set the vehicle on fire to be able to claim the insurance money, according to police.

According to Connecticut State Police, Trooper First Class Kelly Grant, the car had been burned in a wooded area off Miles Standish Road in Colchester.

Colchester Police executed a search warrant on the Colchester woman's and East Hampton man's residences, as well as their cell phone data. The state's Computer Crime Lab performed a data download which yielded corroboration between the two men to burn the car.

Colchester Police submitted three arrest warrant applications, which were subsequently approved in December, 2015. All three suspects were located at their respective residences and taken into custody without incident on the evening of 12/6/15.

Wanda Folsom of Colchester.

Wanda Folsom, 54, of Cardinal Road, Colchester was arrested and charged with Conspiracy to Commit 1st-Degree Arson, Conspiracy to Commit 3rd-Degree Larceny, Conspiracy to Commit 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief, Insurance Fraud and Making a False Statement.

Jeffrey Buckland of East Haddam.

Jeffrey Buckland, 38, of Beebe Road, East Haddam was arrested and charged with 1st-Degree Arson, Conspiracy to Commit 1st-Degree Arson, Conspiracy to Commit 3rd-Degree Larceny, 2nd-Degree Criminal Trover (damage to a motor-vehicle), Conspiracy to Commit 2nd-Degree Criminal Trover, Insurance Fraud, Conspiracy to Commit Insurance Fraud, 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief and Conspiracy to Commit 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief.

Shawn Aldrich of East Hampton.

Shawn Aldrich, 31, of Wildwood Lane, East Hampton was arrested and charged with 1st-Degree Arson, Conspiracy to Commit 1st-Degree Arson, 3rd-Degree Larceny, Conspiracy to Commit 3rd-Degree Larceny, 2nd-Degree Criminal Trover (damage to a motor-vehicle), Conspiracy to Commit 2nd-Degree Criminal Trover, Insurance Fraud, Conspiracy to Commit Insurance Fraud, 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief, Conspiracy to Commit 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief, 2nd-Degree Reckless Endangerment and Operating a Motor-Vehicle Under Suspension.

All three suspects were held on judge-set surety bonds of $100,000 each and transported to their respective correctional facilities to await their trials and were scheduled to appear at Norwich Superior Court on 12/7/15.