A full preliminary hearing has been scheduled for one of two women charged with setting fire to a Kane home in 2014.
Holly L. Gausman, 43, of Grampian, and Karen L. Hatten, 62, of Brockway, were scheduled to appear Thursday in McKean County Central Court before District Judge Dominic Cercone.
A full hearing for Gausman has been set for Oct. 9 before District Judge David Engman, while Hatten’s Central Court appearance was rescheduled for Oct. 5, court records indicate.
According to court records, on Nov. 7, 2014, Kane Borough Fire Department responded to a fire at 432 Tionesta Ave., a two-story, single-family home.
There were no injuries reported; however, the attic sustained extensive charring and smoke damage and the whole house sustained water damage, firefighters reported at the time of the fire.
Court records indicated the house was insured by Erie Insurance Exchange, which paid a claim to Gausman for the loss.
On June 16, 2017, Gausman’s son brought a recording of Gausman allegedly admitting to starting the fire to the Clearfield State Police Barracks, according to court records.
Police interviewed Hatten — Gausman’s mother — who admitted she and Gausman intentionally set the fire by leaving a candle burning in a second floor bathroom that morning; the pair then left for a veterinarian appointment, court records stated.
The women are free, Gausman on $350,000 unsecured bail and Hatten on $25,000 unsecured bail.
