Michael Vandenbergh
WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI (WSAU) — A La Farge man is accused of attempted homicide after a house fire in Wisconsin Rapids last fall.
Michael Vandenbergh is accused of setting a fire in a home on 17th Avenue during the early-morning hours of September 12th. The 30-year-old is accused of dousing the front porch of the home with an accelerant, then lighting the fire.
Investigators believe Vandenbergh had a connection to those inside the home, who escaped the structure unharmed.
The post-incident report, completed in early December, indicates that the fire was not caused by an electrical issue. Security camera footage from the neighborhood showed a person matching Vandenbergh’s description in the area.
He is being held on a $1 million cash bond with a full no-contact order against five individuals, identified by their initials in court records. He will require a public defender, who is expected to be assigned to the case in the coming weeks.
Further court action is scheduled for January 2nd. He faces a mandatory life sentence if found guilty at trial.
Comments