Bellefonte Man Charged with Attempted Murder After Spring Township Fire

Police arrested a Bellefonte man on attempted murder and arson charges after a fire that destroyed a vehicle and damaged a home on Thursday night in Spring Township.

Emergency responders were dispatched to the 200 block of Vanessa Drive at 8:23 p.m. for a vehicle fire and were notified a minute later that the blaze had spread to a residence, Spring Township police wrote in a Facebook post.

An investigation led police to believe Matthew J. Davis, 36, intentionally set the fire using a large liquid propane tank.

He was taken into custody a short time later in Pleasant Gap and allegedly admitted to intentionally setting the fire in attempt to kill the residents of the home.

“This was an isolated incident, and the homeowners were known to Davis,” police wrote.

The vehicle was destroyed and the home sustained significant damage.

Davis is charged with attempted first-degree murder, two counts of arson, two counts of aggravated arson, attempted aggravated assault, causing catastrophe, criminal mischief and recklessly endangering another person.

He was arraigned on Friday morning by District Judge Casey McClain, who denied bail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.