Potato Leads To Arrest Of Connecticut Stripper In Arson Case

A potato stuffed into a vehicle's tailpipe helped lead them to a 19-year-old Connecticut stripper who's now charged with setting fire to a business in a dispute over money.

July 13, 2016

PROSPECT, Conn. (CBSNewYork/AP) — Police say a potato stuffed into a vehicle's tailpipe helped lead them to a 19-year-old Connecticut stripper who's now charged with setting fire to a business in a dispute over money.

Willow Martin, of Naugatuck, was charged Tuesday with several offenses including second-degree arson, in connection with the fire last September at MTM Masonry in Prospect. She was held on $110,000 bail pending arraignment Wednesday.

Authorities say the fire was at a business belonging to the stepfather of Martin's best friend, who owed her money. According to officials, Martin was angered that it was taking a long time for her friend to pay back the $1,200, so she set fire to the business, the Hartford Courant reported.

The business's owner found the potato in the tailpipe of his van. Police processed it for DNA and tied it to Martin's boyfriend, Matthew Garguilo, who was arrested earlier this month.

The boyfriend said he handled the potato, but Martin put it in the exhaust pipe. Garguilo remains in jail on $20,000 bail.

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