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Victim transported to Augusta Burn Center with severe injuries

 

GREEN CREEK—A Rutherford County woman has been arrested after allegedly setting fire to a home while a man and his pets were inside.

On Sunday, February 9, Polk County deputies responded to a structural fire at 2292 Coxe Road in Green Creek at approximately 11:14 p.m. Following an investigation in which officials discovered that a male and two canines were inside the home during the fire, Brittney Ann Twyman, 36, of Forest City, was arrested.

On February 10, Twyman was charged with first-degree arson and two counts of animal cruelty.

The victim, who has been identified as Ben Moore, was airlifted to Augusta Burn Center with severe burns covering over 50% of his body and is set to spend months at the center recovering from his injuries, according to the victim’s sister, Linda Williams. The two canines perished at the scene of the crime.  

According to Williams, who was not at the scene, a woman who is a friend of Moore’s attempted to gain access to the property to warn him, but Twyman stopped her, leading to a physical altercation.

“If she set the house on fire and then sat outside and watched the house burn, she was trying to bring harm,” Williams told the Bulletin on Thursday. “That’s enough evidence that she was trying to kill him. The charge of attempted murder needs to be added because that is exactly what she was trying to do, kill him.”

Polk County Sheriff Tim Wright stated that the investigation is ongoing, and additional charges are anticipated.

“We are working hard on getting these charges upgraded to attempted murder,” said Wright on Wednesday after Twyman’s first court appearance. “We have been discussing the charges with the district attorney and are seeking the maximum charges and sentencing possible. The family of the victim was present today in the courtroom, and we are working to keep them informed as this process continues.”

The victim’s family is accepting monetary donations to help fund Moore’s medical and travel expenses and any other expenses they may incur during this difficult time. On March 1, a local motorcycle club will hold a bike run to raise money for Moore and his family. 

Twyman is currently being held at the Polk County Detention Center under a $76,000 secured bond.