KERSEY – As part an ongoing arson investigation state police in Ridgway announced that charges have been filed against 26-year-old Diane McCracken of Big Run.
According to police the fire occurred on June 30, 2007 at a Kersey residence shared by Donald McCracken and Diane McCracken and Gerald McCracken.
Police stated that Diane McCracken allegedly got a juvenile from Meadville involved with the crime and intentionally misled insurance investigators from Allstate Insurance Company during the course of the investigation.
Police said the home was originally damaged by fire on April 30, 2007. Gerald McCracken was arrested and convicted of arson in that case in January 2008. He is currently serving a state prison sentence of 7-19 years.
According to police the second fire of June 30, 2007, was set in an attempt to mislead investigators working on the April 2007 fire investigation.
Diane McCracken faces charges of criminal solicitation to commit arson, criminal mischief, insurance fraud and corruption of minors. She was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Donald A. Wilhelm and is in Elk County Jail in lieu of $25,000 straight bail.