North Liberty woman accused of trying to set apartment fire in suicide attempt

A 45-year-old North Liberty woman was arrested Tuesday night after police said she tried to light her apartment on fire in an effort to kill herself even though she "knew she was endangering other lives.”

Colette Ann Prybil faces charges of first-degree arson, a felony, and reckless use of fire after police were called to her North Liberty apartment building at 45 W. Jefferson St. in reference a report that a woman had tried to light her unit on fire.

Officers had been to the apartment earlier Tuesday, although a criminal complaint does not say for what reason. When the police arrived at 9:21 p.m. they found burned items on the stove, according to a criminal complaint.

The apartment and hallway were filled with smoke, and police discovered that Prybil had used the stove top burners to light items on fire, according to the complaint. They found several partially burned plastic medication bottles at the scene, police reported.

Witnesses told investigators that Prybil said she started the fire in an attempt to kill herself, even though the building has other units and tenants, police reported.

Prybil, at the time of her arrest, consented to a breath test and had a blood alcohol content level of .313, according to the police report. She admitted to officers that she tried to kill herself by fire even though she was putting other lives at risk.

Prybil is being held in the Johnson County Jail in lieu of a $57,500 bond.