Winchester, IN – A 29-year-old Indiana man has been arrested after allegedly setting fire to his own home because he was overwhelmed by credit card debt and wanted to collect insurance money, according to police. The suspect, Travis Clark, confessed to the crime after walking into a local police station and admitting he was responsible for the blaze.
The Incident: Man Sets Fire to His Own Laundry Room
According to a police report obtained from the Winchester Police Department, Travis Clark approached officers on October 27, 2025, and told them he wanted to “confess to a crime.” Investigators said Clark admitted that in late September, he intentionally set fire to his home’s laundry room before leaving for work that morning.
Clark reportedly said he was “stressed and pissed off” over his mounting credit card bills and saw the fire as a way to collect insurance money to pay off his debt. He was charged with one count of arson and booked into the Randolph County Jail, where he later posted a $1,000 bond.
Investigation and Evidence Collected
Court documents detail that Clark’s motive stemmed from financial strain and frustration. During his interview with police, he stated that he was “stressed and pissed off that he was in debt with credit cards.” Investigators said he had also searched “how to start a fire” on his phone prior to the incident.
Police believe the fire was intentionally started in the laundry room using a butane lighter, and Clark allegedly attempted to make the damage appear accidental…