Off State Road 44 in Sumter County there’s a dirt road and a gate. Behind it you’ll find several homes nearly identical to the one visible from the road. According to tax records all are about 6,800-square-feet and worth more than $600,000 each.
Jessica Lackey was staying in one of the homes owned by Danny Suggs back in October with her boyfriend, the father of her two small children. Suggs said that boyfriend came to his home after the couple had a lovers quarrel. On Oct. 5, he noticed the home Lackey was staying in on fire.
“He continued to pay his rent and everything on the house for her and the kids but she was just trying to get his attention, I guess,” Suggs said.
After a several week investigation, the State Fire Marshal’s office determined Lackey started the fire with rum and lighter fluid in the bathroom sink.
She's charged with arson and child abuse.
“The kids were upstairs and she apparently didn’t even think about them when she did what she did,” Suggs said.
Another family member was able to get both the fire and children out by the time firefighters arrived. The mother was nowhere to be found.
A DCF spokesperson said investigators found she was under the influence and burning pictures of her boyfriend. The agency placed the one and three-year-old children in foster care.
According to the parents' social media sites, since the fire they’ve patched things up. They even made their relationship "Facebook official" the same day the State Attorney's office filed charges against Lackey.
The whole thing has left many in the Lake Panasoffkee community shaking their heads.
“You shouldn’t be burning the house down just to get your boyfriend’s attention especially if you have kids inside, there’s other ways. Arson is one of the biggest problems we have,” said Travis Jones, a firefighter who recently relocated to Sumter County.
Lackey will face a judge later this month.