SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. – A man is in the Spokane County Jail, accused of setting multiple cars on fire, including one belonging to his ex-girlfriend’s former boss.
Richard Teachworth was arrested on Thursday, Aug. 29, in connection with two arsons in Deer Park, one on Aug. 5, and the other on Aug. 8.
Ashley Dinwiddie, one of the victims of the Aug. 5 fire, described the terrifying moment she woke up to a pounding on her door at 3 a.m.
“He’s on the phone with 911, he just yells, ‘your truck’s on fire,’” Dinwiddie said.
Fire investigators initially told Dinwiddie they didn’t see anything suspicious about the blaze and said it happens sometimes. However, a second fire three days later raised suspicions in Deer Park.
The second fire destroyed two cars at the Pinecrest Manor Apartments, with neighbors said the flames reached 20 feet, almost igniting nearby apartments.
One of the victims, who has difficulties getting around due to a bad leg, expressed his frustration.
“Having a bad leg, y’know, I can’t get around that well, y’know, not much money, everything I have to do is a chore,” Doug Ford, who’s truck was completely lost, said.
Court documents revealed a common thread: Teachworth was spotted spraying water on the second fire and was seen by Raymond Dougherty, one of Dinwiddie’s neighbors, at the fire on her property.
“He was sitting in his car, on his phone and it looked like he was watching a movie, but I think he was recording the fire,” Dougherty said.
Teachworth’s connection to one of the victims became clearer when Dinwiddie heard his name mentioned.
“Richard was actually the boyfriend of one of my employees,” she said. “We had to let her go in May for many reasons, and sad to say he was one of them.
15 days after the first arson, Teachworth’s ex-girlfriend reportedly sent texts from Teachworth’s number to Crime Check, including one that read, “Do you remember the conversation about the bakery well unfortunately it wasn’t the bakery,” along with a video of the smoldering car.
Despite Teachworth’s mother, who lives at the location of the second arson, presenting papers claiming his innocence at court, Teachworth is being held on a $10,000 bond as he awaits his arraignment hearing on Sept. 10.
