Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 3, 1993                   TAG: 9311030408
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-4   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Short

ARSON,BREAK-IN CHARGES SENT TO GRAND JURY

Carter Monroe Clay, 41, is accused of setting an Oct. 4 fire at 730 Lawn Drive, the home of a woman he had previously dated. The fire caused about $50,000 damage.

A trespassing charge was not prosecuted.

Mike Cox, an investigator with the Christiansburg Police Department, testified that Wendy Atkinson, whom Clay had dated, told him the defendant had come to her house saying he wanted to talk.

Atkinson told Clay several times to leave but he did not, she told police. Her attorney had sent Clay a letter advising him to stay away from her. Atkinson finally told Clay she would meet him at a motel, but instead went to the Police Department.

Clay was upset when Atkinson did not meet him and he returned to the woman's house, according to Cox's testimony. Clay told police he used about four gallons of gasoline to set fire to the house, Cox testified.

Clay told Cox he had been drinking for two days before the fire.

One bedroom of Atkinson's home was ``pretty well destroyed,'' and other parts of the house suffered smoke and water damage as well, Cox said.

Judge Ray Grubbs certified the arson and break-in charges to the next grand jury, which meets in January.