What started as an argument over alleged infidelity in a Miami Gardens efficiency ended with flames, smoke and a first-degree arson charge, according to police.
Miami Gardens officers say 30-year-old Tabitha Rebekah Woodard was arrested Wednesday after a fire broke out inside the small unit she shares with her longtime boyfriend. Investigators say clothing was set on fire, triggering a 911 call when a neighbor returned from work, saw smoke and alerted authorities.
The neighbor told investigators they had just come home, noticed the smoke and called police. Officers later detained Woodard when she came back to the unit. According to police, the couple had been arguing in the days leading up to the blaze, and the dispute centered on accusations of cheating.
Local 10 reports the fire was called in around 6:13 p.m. Wednesday in the 2900 block of Northwest 156th Street in Miami Gardens. Earlier that day, the victim had noticed his car’s tires had been slashed, according to the arrest report.
Investigators say Woodard and the man have been together for 13 years and lived in the efficiency for about two years. The argument reportedly started Tuesday and carried into early Wednesday. A witness who arrived home before first responders told police they saw Woodard standing by the door while the victim’s mother was inside. The witness said they led the mother out, then called 911.
Charges and what they carry
Woodard was booked on a first-degree arson charge. Under Florida Statutes Chapter 806 and the sentencing rules in Chapter 775, first-degree arson is a first-degree felony. In Florida, first-degree felonies can carry substantial prison time, often up to 30 years depending on the specific offense and any enhancements.
Prosecutors will review the arrest report and decide whether to pursue additional charges as the case moves forward.
How the fire unfolded, per police
According to investigators, the victim left the home to buy new tires after discovering his had been slashed. When he came back, the efficiency was on fire.
The arrest report cited by Local 10 states that Woodard admitted lighting a piece of paper and holding it over the clothing. Police say she initially fled the scene after the fire started but later returned, at which point officers detained her.
Woodard was taken to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. As of Thursday morning, jail records listed her bond status as “to be set.”
What's next
The Miami Gardens Police Department is continuing its investigation, and the case now heads into the hands of prosecutors, who will decide which formal charges to file and when to move ahead with court proceedings.
The next public steps are expected to include a formal charging document and an initial appearance in Miami-Dade court. For now, Woodard remains in custody at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
