Mineola man allegedly set his wife's car on fire after argument over keys

SMITH COUNTY, Texas (KLTV) – A Mineola man was arrested on arson charges after he allegedly poured the contents of a gasoline can on his wife's car and set it on fire.

On Aug. 16, Smith County firefighters responded to a report of a vehicle fire in the 8500 block of FM 14, according to an affidavit. When firefighters arrived, they found a man spraying water on a burning vehicle with a garden hose. The woman who called authorities told dispatchers the man was her husband, Justin Kennedy Hillard, 36, and that he had set her truck on fire after coming home drunk, according to the affidavit.

According to the affidavit, the vehicle was purchased new in June 2024 and was insured.

Hillard came home from work drunk, the woman claimed, and wanted her to go out to dinner with him. She said she refused to go anywhere with him until he sobered up, and then he tried to take the car away from her, but she had the keys. While they were arguing, the affidavit states, Hillard threatened to set her vehicle on fire if she didn't give him the keys and let her see “who I really am.”

The woman said she had planned to drive the vehicle to a friend's house for safety reasons, but Hillard began pouring gasoline on it. She pushed him away and got in when she saw him lighting a lighter in his hand, the affidavit states. The woman allegedly jumped back out of the vehicle and ran about 10 yards away when she saw the vehicle catch fire.

She called her father and then the sheriff's office, which sent the fire department. The affidavit states Hillard was walking when the fire department arrived.

Upon investigation, the engine was found to have melted and thermal damage on top, spot thermal damage on the outside of the hood, and melting on the driver's side rear of the vehicle. The affidavit states that the Smith County Fire Chief determined that the fire movement and intensity patterns were consistent with the woman's statement.

A warrant was issued on Tuesday, Hillard was arrested and booked into the Smith County Jail on Wednesday. He is charged with arson and bail is set at $250,000.

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