A rural Pelican Rapids woman faces a charge of first-degree arson in connection with a January blaze at a discount store she helped operate.
Dellrae Mashek, 50, also known as Dell Rae Jacobsen and Dell Rae Holland, is accused in Otter Tail County District Court of intentionally damaging the Pelican Dollar Store by using fire or explosives.
According to a court complaint:
A tenant in an apartment above the store reported the fire about 6:05 p.m. on Jan. 26.
Mashek, who told investigators she was co-owner and operator of the business, said she and an employee were the last people to leave the store before she locked up about 5:50 p.m.
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The origin of the fire was traced to a heavily damaged storage/mechanical room.
In the room, investigators found charred plastic containers of lighter fluid near the spot the fire appeared to have started.
Metal cans recovered from the room were analyzed and found to contain residue from a flammable liquid.
Investigators ruled out accidental causes for the fire.
According to the court complaint, Mashek told investigators she was behind on some bills, including a credit card with a balance of $70,000.
Investigators also determined Mashek was in the process of filing for bankruptcy, according to the complaint.
Calls made to a phone listing for Mashek went unanswered Thursday.
(Dave Olson writes for The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, a Forum Communications Co. newspaper)
