A Wayne County, Ohio, couple has come under federal scrutiny following revelations suggesting an alleged hate crime resulting in their home's explosion was a ruse to siphon insurance payouts. Angela Frase now faces misconduct charges, as federal documents indicate the 2019 incident may have been self-inflicted to secure insurance money. These insights arise from court documents obtained by WKYC, which detailed the accusation that Frase used the pretense of a racially motivated attack to defraud her insurer.
An investigation led by local fire departments and federal agencies responded to the Spruce Street explosion on August 7, 2019, bearing witness to the ashes of a domicile marred by an insidious narrative of hate. A swastika allegedly spray-painted on the garage became a symbol of intimidation and fear. Yet, the story became more sinister when, in a statement obtained by Cleveland19, Angela Frase proclaimed, "I got sick twice. That is what happened. It was like this didn’t just happen. I don’t understand it.” Her words seemingly echoed the confusion of a victim, but the federal documents reveal these might have been the fabrications of an architect.
Court filings add layers to the narrative as Angela Frase's online activity and reports to authorities painted a warped recounting of events leading to and following the explosion. The Frases stayed in a hotel while firefighters had reportedly addressed a natural gas leak the day before the blast. Contradictions about Angela's whereabouts on the night of the explosion and subsequent deceptive reports to the police provoked suspicion. According to court documents sourced from WKYC, Frase told authorities she had left the hotel to check on her cats and claimed to have seen two individuals fleeing.
The couple's narrative began unraveling as the federal probe revealed deceit. Investigators found no corroboration for the claim of racist attacks and instead implicated the couple in a deliberate act of fraud. The insurance company was reportedly bilked for over $320,000 under pretense, including claims of property loss and costs for hotel stays. The CleveScene, detailing the court documents, mentioned, "Federal prosecutors claim that Frase's Facebook postings leading up to the explosion, and inconsistencies surrounding purported electrical issues beforehand, are sufficient to accuse her of four counts of fraud." And yet, Angela Frase reportedly told CleveScene she was unaware of the charges and denied them. Her husband has not been charged.
