An Oxford woman already at the center of a bomb investigation is now accused of torching a home in Lafayette County, ratcheting up an already serious criminal case.
Christina Willis, 28, who was arrested last summer after investigators say a homemade explosive was found on a vehicle, was charged Friday with first-degree arson tied to a 2024 house fire in Lafayette County. Court records show Willis is being held without bond as prosecutors add the arson count to pending state and federal cases. The filing is the latest turn in a multiagency probe that investigators say turned up explosives and bomb-making materials.
New Arson Count Added in County Records
As reported by Fox13 Memphis, a new indictment alleges Willis set fire to a man’s home in 2024 and lists first-degree arson among the charges now pending against her. Fox13 notes the arson count is a felony that could carry a lengthy prison term and that Willis remains jailed without bond while the matter moves through the courts.
Investigation Grew Out of a June Suspicious Package
Investigators say the case began after a suspicious package was found on a vehicle on June 20, 2025. Technicians with the Tupelo Bomb Squad and the ATF later determined the package contained a live homemade explosive, according to reporting by ActionNews5/WMC. Authorities executed a federal search warrant at a Batesville-area residence on Highway 35 South, where they say they discovered additional explosives, bomb-making materials, firearms and narcotics.
Alleged Escape Plot Involved a Second Person
Local officials say Willis and 48-year-old Mark Montgomery were later tied together in the investigation and accused of plotting an escape from the Lafayette County Detention Center. Tips prompted deputies to charge both with conspiracy to escape custody, per SuperTalk Mississippi. Law enforcement records and reporting indicate monitored jail calls and intercepted tips were part of what led to the added escape-related counts.
Legal Stakes and Next Steps for Prosecutors
Under Mississippi law a conviction for first-degree arson of a dwelling can carry a sentence ranging from five to 20 years and restitution, according to the state code summarized by Justia/Mississippi Code. Willis still faces state counts of attempted murder and bomb-placement, and prosecutors have signaled federal explosive-related charges in the broader investigation. Court dockets list the new arson charge as pending while grand-jury and discovery work continues.
