Burning boyfriend’s possessions leads to duplex fire, arson charges

An Iowa City woman faces arson charges after allegedly setting her boyfriend's clothing, bedding and furniture on fire in a Cedar Rapids duplex in January.

Sylvia L. Tribble, 37, is charged with first-degree arson, a Class B felony punishable by up to 25 years in prison.

She's accused of intentionally starting a fire in a two-story duplex at 605 15th St., SE, on Jan. 9, when the 'presence of one or more persons could be anticipated in or near the property,” court records state.

No one was injured in the blaze, but the fire damaged both duplex units, records state.

Tribble, who was living in the duplex, was seen on security video from a nearby residence leaving the duplex about two minutes before smoke began to develop, court records state.

She later told investigators she intentionally set the fire because she was angry at her boyfriend.

'She gathered a pile of their bedding and his clothing that she placed on a chair in the living room and set fire to the material with a cigarette,” the court records states.

Tribble was recently arrested in Iowa City on the charges stemming from January.

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