BENSALEM, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — A Michigan man has been charged with several counts of attempted murder after authorities said he set fire to a home in Bensalem last week.
Harrison Jones, 21, of Rockford, Michigan, has been charged with six counts of attempted homicide, arson and related offenses. On Feb. 10, officials said Jones drove more than 700 miles and more than 11 hours each way to set fire to a home in the 5200 block of Merganser Way, near Portside Drive, in Bensalem Township.
According to William McVey, Bensalem Township director of public safety, Jones’ ex-girlfriend, a 21-year-old Michigan woman, was having an online relationship with a resident of the Bucks County home.
Investigators said she was supposed to meet the Bucks County man in person for the first time that week.
“We will be going through digital evidence, phone records to see if there is more, but we know that there was an online relationship that started sometime in 2023 between the male son, 22 years old, of the residence and the female from Michigan,” he said. “Her ex is the person charged in this case.”
Six people were sleeping in the home when the fire broke out around 5 a.m. Some had to jump out of second-story windows to escape, but they all safely evacuated. However, they suffered smoke inhalation and were treated at area hospitals.
Two dogs in the house died, and the fire destroyed the home.
A neighbor’s home surveillance camera captured a person exiting a black sedan nearby, walking toward the house with an object, then running back to the car and fleeing the scene. As the person fled, a large explosion engulfed the house in flames, police said.
Officials said license plate reading technology in the township also helped track down Jones.
The Bucks County District Attorney’s Office said Jones faces 13 felony counts and nine misdemeanor counts. The penalty exceeds more than his lifespan.
Jones is currently awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania.