April 11, 2023
By News Director Jared Atha
Four inmates at the Custer County Jail who recently started a fire have all been formally charged with fourth degree arson.
According to court records 27-year-old Ellie Anne-Marie Dodge of Oklahoma City, 20-year-old Amara Analee Ferrell of Weatherford, 24-year-old Sierra Beth Thacker of Bridgeport and 23-year-old Capacine Rachel Allynn Watan of Weatherford each received one felony count of fourth-degree arson in Custer County District Court on March 30 for their roles in the incident that took place on March 23.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Dodge was seen on security footage piling papers on a metal table and setting it on fire with what deputies later determined was a battery from an electronic cigarette.
Once the fire had started, Dodge could be seen allegedly throwing more papers onto the fire, and at one point removing her socks and putting them in the flames as well.
The affidavit stated that Ferrell and Watan could also be seen putting papers into the flames, and Thacker could be seen gathering papers and handing them to the inmates to be thrown into the fire.
After roughly 15 minutes, the flames were extinguished by jail staff and no major damage, or injuries were reported.
The affidavit said that when asked why she set the fire, Dodge told a deputy that she wasn’t trying to hurt anyone, she just wanted out of the jail.
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