Macon Woman Arrested For Extensive Arson

The Macon County Sheriff’s Office reports it arrested 31-year-old Tracy Stephenson of Macon on five counts of second degree arson and three counts of knowingly burning or exploding. Numerous fires were intentionally set in and around Macon. Authorities received a call about a fire on Montana Place southeast of Macon on New Year’s Day. A witness observed a vehicle leaving the scene of the fire and identified the license plate number. An officer with the Macon Police Department located the suspect’s vehicle and detained the driver for questioning at the Macon County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators found lighters and bottles, and they also noticed the smell of gas emitting from the interior of the suspect’s vehicle. When authorities questioned Stephenson, she admitted to starting eight different fires in and around Macon, which included three at the Macon County Expo Center, one near the Chronicle-Herald building, one at Woodlawn Cemetery, one on National Guard property, one at Macon Diversified Industries, and the one on Montana Place. Stephenson is held in the Macon County Jail on the eight fire-related charges with a $50,000 cash only bond.