Arson Arrest after Fleischmanns Fire

FLEISCHMANNS — Sheriff Craig S. DuMond announced the arrest of a Delaware County woman following an investigation into a residential fire that occurred in the Town of Middletown.     

On Monday, January 19th, 2026, Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a report of suspicious activity at 746 Old Route 28, in the Town of Middletown.  While responding to the call, and in close proximity to the incident address, a Deputy encountered a female subject walking along the roadway. The Deputy stopped and identified the subject as 49-year-old Amy Slater of Fleischmanns. During this initial encounter, Slater made verbal admissions to the Deputy, regarding her setting her residence on fire. As a result, Slater was immediately detained and the Deputy continued his response to the residence, where upon arrival, it was confirmed that the home was in fact on fire.  

Delaware County 911 dispatched multiple fire departments to the scene to conduct fire suppression efforts and additionally, members of the Delaware County Cause and Origin Team and members of the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division responded to conduct an investigation. 

Upon conclusion of the investigation, Slater was arrested and charged with one count of Arson in the Third Degree and Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree, both felonies of the New York State Penal Law.  Following completion of arrest processing, Slater was transported to the Delaware County Correctional Facility, where she was held for arraignment at Centralized Arraignment Processing (CAP) Court later that evening. Slater was subsequently arraigned and released pending her appearance in the Town of Middletown Court at a later date, to answer the charges.   

Sheriff DuMond sends his sincere thanks to the following agencies who assisted with this incident: Fleischmanns Fire Department, Arkville Fire Department, Margaretville-Halcottsville Fire Department, Roxbury Fire Department, Pine Hill Fire Department, Margaretville Hospital EMS, Delaware County Emergency Services and the Delaware County Cause and Origin Team.