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Money Troubles Led Woman To Set Fire, Officials Say

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By BILLY TOWNSEND | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 21, 2008

Updated: 05/21/2008 07:52 pm

  Mia Gayshonne Dix

TAMPA - Investigators say Mia Gayshonne Dix was in trouble.

The 37-year-old had been fired from her job. Her car had been repossessed. Her home was in foreclosure.

So when the house at 3807 N. Highland Ave. caught fire in December, suspicion arose.

Dix, who filed an insurance claim on the home in February, was arrested Monday on arson and fraud charges after an investigation on behalf of the insurance company, according to her arrest report.

The fire started in the kitchen and caused $17,000 damage to the home, said Tampa Fire Rescue Capt. Bill Wade.

Investigators are not releasing specifics on how the fire started, but are certain it was intentionally set so the insurance money could be collected, Wade said.

It is common practice for insurance companies to provide assistance to authorities "especially when the fires are suspicious in origin," Wade said.

The arrest report notes Dix's financial difficulties and says she was moving out and had the only keys to the home.

The three-bedroom, two-bath home was built in 2004 and had an assessed value of $101,378 when it was damaged by the fire, according to tax records from the county property appraiser's office.

At a hearing this morning, Dix's first appearance, a judge set bail on the two charges at $10,000.

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