Background: The Randolph County Jail in Winchester, Ind. (Google Maps). Inset: Travis Clark (Randolph County Jail).
An Indiana man allegedly set his own house on fire because he was “stressed and pissed off” about his financial situation.
Travis Clark, 29, was arrested on Oct. 27 after telling officers at the Winchester Police Department that he wanted to “confess to a crime,” according to court documents obtained by local Fox affiliate WXIN. Police said that Clark told officers that he set his own house on fire in late September, reportedly in an attempt to collect insurance money that would help him pay off his credit card debt. Clark was booked into the Randolph County Jail and charged with arson.
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According to court documents, Clark told police that he was “stressed and pissed off that he was in debt with credit cards.” While speaking with officers, Clark stated that he allegedly set a fire in his home”s laundry room before he went to work in the morning.
But Clark also told police that he had allegedly attempted a similar scheme before. Court documents stated that Clark told officers that he tried to set fire to his home three years ago for the same reason, but the insurance company did not investigate. The fire in September, Clark said, was investigated. Clark admitted to police that he had searched “how to start a fire” on his cellphone.
After meeting with an insurance adjuster, Clark allegedly “took a butane lighter and torched the wire even more to make it look more convincing for insurance costs,” the court documents said.
In a written statement, Clark reportedly said that he “snapped” due to his bills “piling up.”
Clark was charged with one count of arson. He posted $1,000 bond shortly after his arrest and was released from jail. His next court date is scheduled for Feb. 2, 2026.
