MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) — A 16-year-old Manitowoc girl is adding to the reward for information that will lead to the arrest of the person who set fire to a home she intended to buy.
Makayla Green wanted to buy her great-grandmother’s home in the 3300 block of Mero Street. Green wanted to fix the house up so she could raise her own family there someday.
While too young to buy the house herself, a family member was set to sign the paperwork with her.
“I’ve been working the past six months to take ownership of the house,” Green told WTAQ. “I was supposed to sign the paperwork on Tuesday.”
But on Monday night, Manitowoc Police say someone set fire to the vacant home. Firefighters were called to the residence just after midnight Monday. Green got a call shortly afterwards.
“They said ‘Makayla, your house in on fire’,”she recalled Wednesday. “When I got there, the flames were as high as the trees. I told the police ‘someone did this’.”
Police say Makayla was right. The fire is believed to have a point of origin inside a detached building on the property. The fire then spread to the vacant residence and to other occupied residences in that area.
Green also wanted to move her grandmother into the home, saying her grandmother currently lives in a home with drug activity.
Her mother, Marcie Green, says her daughter is heartbroken.
“It’s devastating for her, it’s like her dreams are just shattered,” she said.
Nevertheless, Makayla’s mother is proud.
“I’m definitely proud of her,” said Green. “That’s something so big for a 16-year-old to take on.”
Makayla says she will still buy if she can successfully raise the funds to fix up the place. She’s set up a GoFundMe page.
Manitowoc Police say Green has been “helpful” in the investigation.
Green is adding $500 to the $1,000 reward offered by Crime Stoppers for any information and the other $1,000 put up by another private citizen.
Callers with information leading to the arrest of the person(s) responsible for this arson could become eligible for a reward by calling Crime Stoppers at (920) 683-4466, by utilizing the P3 App or by contacting Detective David McCue at (920) 686-6570. Tipsters may remain anonymous if they choose.
When calling, please reference Manitowoc Police incident 2021-00014583.
