Cypress Heel: Woman Burns Down 3,500 Year Old Tree to See Drugs

[onedef92]

Woman Burns Down 3,500 Year Old Tree to See Drugs

Posted on March 5th, 2012

A Florida woman, Sara Barnes, 26, was charged with setting a fire that burned down The Senator, one of the world’s oldest cypress trees. After her arrest, she told authorities that the reason she lit the tree on fire was because she needed a light to see the drugs she was doing.

According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, this “genius” even ousted herself by telling witnesses that she was the one who started the fire. She also took pictures of the actual fire with her cellphone.

Barnes piled twigs and branches at the base of tree, and it burned very quickly. Sterling Ivey, an agriculture spokesman, stated, “The tree is a great fuel source, unfortunately.” She also reported that Barnes did not even bother calling 911 or the fire department.

When investigators searched Barnes apartment on Tuesday, they confiscated her cellphone and laptop. They also found drug paraphernalia pertaining to methamphetamine. The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office arrested Barnes on charges of possession of meth “with intent to sell and possession of drug paraphernalia.” They also arrested another woman who was at Barnes’s apartment on the same charges.

The Senator has been attracting tourists to the Big Tree Park long before Walt Disney World was present. The tree stood at a height of 118 feet and was thought to have been over 3,500 years old. That history span was completely burned down when one person decided to light a match.

It is believed that another person was with Barnes when she set the fire, although that person has not been identified yet. Barnes arrest was possible thanks to a tip reported to Crimeline on January 17. She is currently being held at the Seminole County Jail.

On Tuesday, Seminole County decided to install a fence around Big Tree Park. County Commissioners say this is to prevent anyone from stealing the remains of The Senator or damaging another cypress tree, Lady Liberty, that is believed to be 2,000 years old.

[mrvette]

****ing drug heads.....WGTBFKM.....assholes, I gotta solution....

[Yerf Dog]

[mrvette]

Originally Posted by Yerf Dog

One shot, clean off.... for the tree....

[onedef92]

Anyone feel the inspiration for my headline, though? Gotta' pic?

[Datawiz]

Originally Posted by onedef92

Anyone feel the inspiration for my headline, though? Gotta' pic?

It speaks to me.

[boracayjohnny]

The cost of a 22 round is cheap.

[onedef92]

Originally Posted by boracayjohnny

The cost of a 22 round is cheap.

In China, they bill the perp's family for the cost of the ammo, too.

[Jobaka]

Originally Posted by onedef92

Anyone feel the inspiration for my headline, though? Gotta' pic?

[boracayjohnny]

Originally Posted by onedef92

In China, they bill the perp's family for the cost of the ammo, too.

Iirc, China just put to death a Filipino drug smuggler. Them cats don't play around with 20+ years on death row or commutation to life.

And OD, your headlines are always top drawer stuff.