Suspect arrested for WH fire
BY SUZANNE LOUDAMY Staff writer

Deborah Owens

The fire that destroyed the home of Bobby Whisenhunt at 205 Delmar of Whitehouse on May 5 was a case of arson and a suspect is in custody.

Due to the investigative work of Detective Mary Pyle of the Whitehouse police department, Deborah Ann Owens, 43, was arrested July 19 and booked into the Smith County jail on a charge of arson.

"This is not her first time through the system and not her first brush with arson," Pyle said. "Along with the arson charge, Owens' probation for a previous conviction is also revoked."

Pyle said Owens was her number one suspect from the beginning. According to Pyle, Owens was in a relationship with Whisenhunt and was a "woman scorned." Owens was unhappy when Whisenhunt tried to end their relationship and she torched his house in retaliation.

Owens, who listed her address as 14291 FM 850 in Tyler, was already on probation for second degree felony charges of manufacture and delivery of a control substance. This case adds to the list which includes a conviction of assault causing bodily injury and past charges ranging from theft by check to possession of a controlled substance.

Pyle's investigation took her to multiple East Texas locations including visits with inmates to gather testimony and information about Owens and her past actions. Owens remains in the Smith County jail under $500,000 bond.