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Accomack arson suspects indicted by Grand Jury

Posted at 4:07 PM, Aug 05, 2013
and last updated 2013-08-05 16:07:26-04

Accomack County, Va. – Charles Robert Smith, III and Tonya Bundick, the two suspects accused in a string of arsons on the Eastern Shore, were indicted by a Grand Jury on Monday.

Smith was indicted on 67 counts of arson and one count of conspiracy to commit arson. He now has a total of 68 counts. The conspiracy charge and one of the arsons was the subject of a preliminary hearing in June.

The other suspect accused in this case, Bundick, was indicted on one count of arson and one count of conspiracy to commit arson.

Virginia State Police say Bundick and her fiancee Smith are responsible for setting the majority of the arsons in Accomack County between November 2012 and April 1, 2013.

The two were arrested near the scene of an arson on Airport Drive in Melfa.

State Police surveillance units allegedly observed Bundick drop off Smith in her minivan at the abandoned building, and watched Smith start a fire in the building before Bundick picked him up. Police stopped the pair near the scene of the fire.

Smith admitted to setting most of the fires and said Bundick helped him, according to arrest warrants filed in the case.

Related: 

Man accused in Accomack arson investigation: ‘I’m sorry, but I didn’t light them all’

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Weeks after serial arsons arrests, fear still lingers in Accomack County

Bond denied for man accused in Accomack County arson investigation