A Chester County woman, Kathryn Frankel, faces arson charges after her historic Berwyn home, known as Breeze Hill, caught fire twice in less than three months, with officials alleging her direct involvement in at least the latest incident. Firefighters confronted a significant blaze at Frankel's property in Berwyn, previously left considerably damaged by an earlier fire, as reported by FOX 29.
Witness statements to authorities depicted Frankel walking around the house, devoid of electrical power talking to herself as smoke emerged from the building. According to police, upon their arrival, they discovered Frankel with hands and garments covered in soot, and her hair singed. Following this alarming visual evidence and the discovery of a lighter by the pool, not to mention a K9 detecting traces of ignitable liquid on her clothing, she was charged with arson, reckless burning, and other related crimes. However, she has yet to face charges for the May 1 fire, 6ABC details.
After being taken to the hospital for minor injuries sustained, Frankel now confronts serious legal accusations. According to CBS News: "Due to [Kathryn] Frankel being the only person present in the home at the time of the fire, the fact that Frankel had the appearance of being in close proximity to a fire, including soot and singed head and nose hairs, the presence of a lighter at the scene, the K9 alerting to the presence of ignitable liquids on the clothing of Kathryn Frankel, the house being de-energized, this being the second fire at this residence that occurred while Frankel was present, your Affiant has probable cause to believe that [Kathryn] Frankel started a fire inside the residence at 400 Leopard Road".
The historical residence, once part of the estate belonging to the notable Sharp family, whose patriarch Joseph W. Sharp founded Berwyn National Bank and led plumbing manufacturer Sharp, Haines and Co., carries both cultural and historical significance in Chester County, dating back to the 1900s. Real estate listings uncovered by CBS News describe the 4,500-square-foot structure with 18-inch-thick stone walls and highlight it as a distinguished piece of the area's architectural legacy, last sold for $890,000 in December 2016. The home's fate now hangs in the balance as investigations unfold and the legal process against Frankel continues.
