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Man charged with arson after setting girlfriend’s home on fire, killing 2 cats in Warren

Fire completely destroyed the home where the cats were inside

Jesse Dennis Hayden Humphrey (Macomb County Prosecutor's Office)

WARREN, Mich. – A 29-year-old Canadian man was charged with starting a fire at his girlfriend’s house in Warren.

Allegedly, Jesse Dennis Hayden Humphrey, 29, set his girlfriend’s home on fire after an argument on Sunday, Sept. 22.

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Officials say the fire completely destroyed the home, killing the two cats inside.

The girlfriend was not home at the time of the fire, and officials say Humphrey fled the scene of the fire but was later arrested in Warren.

Humphrey was charged with two counts of second-degree arson, a 20-year felony, and killing animals in the third-degree, a four-year felony.

Under Michigan law, intentionally killing animals is a four-year felony, and that is the highest possible charge for animal deaths.

The 29-year-old man was charged in 37th Warren District Court, where bond was set at $500,000 cash/surety only.

If released, Humphrey is to wear a GPS tether, not leave the state of Michigan, and have no contact with the victim.

A probable cause hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, at 8:45 a.m., and a preliminary exam is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, at 8:45 a.m.


About the Author
Brandon Carr headshot

Brandon Carr is a digital content producer for ClickOnDetroit and has been with WDIV Local 4 since November 2021. Brandon is the 2015 Solomon Kinloch Humanitarian award recipient for Community Service.

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