
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 24, 1995                   TAG: 9503240119
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MATT CHITTUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

ARSON CHARGE DISMISSED FOR LACK OF EVIDENCE

An arson charge against a Roanoke County woman, who investigators had accused of burning down her sister's house, was dismissed Thursday for lack of evidence.

Tamberina Jane Harris, 29, was in Roanoke County General District Court for a preliminary hearing.

Judge John Apostolou refused to certify the charge to the grand jury. Harris had been charged with setting fire to a home at 3464 Chapparal Drive in October, according to Roanoke County Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Susan Cohen. The home was rented by Harris' sister, Elizabeth Andrews; James Poff; and their two children.

``The evidence was circumstantial to begin with,'' Cohen said. ``Sometimes you just have to try to put it all together, and this time it just didn't come together.''

Roanoke County Fire Inspector Rodney Ferguson said in October that he believed an accelerant was poured throughout the home and ignited by a match or lighter. He said Harris was in the house just before the fire began. She denied setting it.

by CNB