Investigators believe house fire set for benefits, to end marriage

A Lawton man is accused of setting fire to his house as an opportunity to reap benefits and possibly end his marriage, according to his estranged wife.

The Comanche County District Court issued a felony arrest warrant Wednesday for Navarre Martinez, 24, for a count of second-degree arson, records indicate. The crime is punishable by up to 35 years in prison and/or fine up to $25,000.

Lawton Deputy Fire Marshal Anthony Garibay stated he was investigating a house fire shortly before midnight Oct. 25 at 6773 SW Chaucer Drive after another assistant fire marshal discovered the origin and cause of the fire to be from an incendiary device, the warrant affidavit states. Martinez’s wife showed up in her vehicle, and he showed up with another woman. During a walk through, Martinez’s wife said she noticed their computers were missing and said they believed they’d been burglarized, Garibay stated.

The three people said they’d been at the other woman’s house drinking and having a dog play date and because of that, their four dogs and children were not in the home at the time of the fire, the affidavit states. Both, Martinez and his wife said they weren’t involved in the incident during their first interviews with investigators.

In a follow-up interview, Martinez’s wife said she and her husband weren’t happy in their marriage and he’d stepped out on her, according to the affidavit. She said she’d kicked him out of the home and tried to file for divorce at one point. She said she told Martinez the only thing holding her back from their separation is ownership of the home, Garibay stated.

A recent fire before that at the home was caused by electrical issues and led to insurance money because it was ruled accidental, the woman told investigators. Following that, she said, Martinez, the other woman and another man came up with a plan to stage the fire and told her to stick to her story and stay out of the loop as much as possible, according to the affidavit. On the night of the fire, she first said, she woke up to an alert the house was on fire and found the three gone from the house, Garibay stated.

In a third interview, the woman said Martinez “saw this as an opportunity” and he talked about how he may start it or where and when,” the affidavit states. She said she wanted no part in the crime. On the night of the fire, as Martinez and the man and woman left, they left their phones. She told Garibay she was told to lie about the computers being stolen to help throw off the investigation.

A $25,000 cash warrant bond was issued upon Martinez’s arrest.