Washington County woman, 61, arrested in double arson

HURRICANE, Washington County — A Toquerville woman was arrested Wednesday after police say she twice tried to burn down a Hurricane home she was contracted to buy.

Investigators suspected arson following a fire at the home near 700 W. 100 North in September 2009 and had "a lot of evidence" on the woman, said Hurricane police spokeswoman Nancy Perkins.

That blaze caused $70,000 in damage, and a second fire at the same house last month made it uninhabitable, said Hurricane Police Sgt. Stacey Gubler.

"We found a suspicious incendiary device at the house following the second fire," Gubler said. "We gathered a lot of information and evidence that led us to this arrest. All the evidence we gathered pointed to her."

Gubler said the home, located near Hurricane Elementary School and the Hurricane city offices, was a "fairly large, newer home."

Marva Rolena Gerber, 61, was arrested and booked into jail for investigation of aggravated arson. She was in the process of purchasing the home, having even signed a contract on the home, according to police.

Investigators, however, have not determined a motive for the fires.

"We don't want to jump to any conclusions," Perkins said.

— Emiley Morgan