Maryland Woman Sets House On Fire With Person Inside

A Maryland woman was sitting in a chair on her front lawn and watched her house burn down last week after setting it on fire while someone was still inside, according to Fox News. 

Multiple fire departments responded to the blaze in Elkton at around 1:15 pm on Thursday, the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal claimed. 

Witnesses told officials that a woman, identified as 47-year-old Gail J. Metwally, set multiple fires in the home before sitting in a chair on the front lawn and watching the flames engulf her house. 

The video that showed the chaotic scene was eventually posted to social media showing a woman reading a book while the house was set ablaze. 

A witness who recorded the video claimed, “I cannot actually believe it, and she’s sitting there just chillin’ watching the house go up in flames. Oh my God.”

Officials have said that Metwally walked away from the house after a few minutes, but witnesses said that there were still screams coming from the basement as the house continued to burn. 

Two men then rushed to the home after hearing a woman yell from the basement. Officials have said that bystanders helped the woman through the basement window. 

Metwally was charged with first- and second-degree attempted murder, arson, assault, two counts of malicious burning, two counts of malicious destruction of property, and two counts of reckless endangerment.