Arsonist drove over 700 miles to start fire at Bensalem home as family slept: officials

BENSALEM, Pa. - A Pennsylvania family awoke to a house of horror when officials say a stranger traveled from states away to commit a chilling crime of arson.

What we know:

Crews arrived to find six people outside a house engulfed in flames on the 5200 block of Merganser Way last week.

Officials say they were able to escape thanks to the mom, who heard suspicious noises, before finding the fire and evacuating her family.

All six family members survived, and were treated for smoke inhalation. However, both of the family's dogs perished in the fire.

Video captured a vehicle pulling up to the house as a suspect got out, walked towards the rear, then drove off.

About 30 seconds later, an explosion erupted, and the house went up in flames.

Dig deeper:

The cause of the fire was determined to be arson, sparking an investigation that led police to a house in Rockford, Michigan, less than two days later.

An arrest warrant was obtained for 21-year-old Harrison Jones, who was taken into custody with apparent burns on his arm.

Officials say Jones is the ex-boyfriend of a woman from Michigan who had been in an online relationship with a male resident in the Bensalem house since 2023. However, they say a motive is still being investigated.

Court documents say Jones was supposed to drive his ex-girlfriend to meet the man. Instead, investigators say he drove to Bensalem on his own with "murderous intentions."

"He drove over 730 miles, 11 hours, to do what he did and then drove directly back home," said William McVey, Director of Public Safety for the Bensalem Township Police Department.

What's next:

Jones is charged with six counts of attempted homicide, arson and related offenses. He is currently awaiting extradition back to Pennsylvania.

A GoFundMe for the family says it was their two dogs, Trey and Jett, that alerted the mom, who is also battling cancer, that something was wrong. Investigators say both dogs died in the fire.

A family member also started a fundraiser with the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society to honor their memory. A PAWS spokesperson tells FOX 29 they plan to create a plaque to dedicate one of their kennels to Trey and Jett for their heroism.

What they're saying:

"This is a family’s worst nightmare to be asleep in their home, not knowing that a stranger broke into their home, and attempted to take their lives by setting their home on fire," said Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn. "This family suffered such inconceivable loss. This defendant’s actions are incomprehensible, and he will be held accountable."

The Zalenski Family sent the following statement to FOX 29:

"From the entire Zalenski Family, we want to express our deepest gratitude to the incredible first responders, law enforcement officials, and emergency personnel who came to our aid last Monday. It is by the grace of God and the help of all those individuals that we made it out of our home safely and survived. While we lost everything, including our beloved pets Trey and Jett, we're forever grateful for the swift and courageous response from the Bensalem Police Department, Firefighters, EMS, medical professionals, and of course the Bucks County Detectives, all who cared for us in the aftermath and since this tragedy. Their dedication and bravery helped save our lives, and we will never forget what they did for our family. 

We are overwhelmed at the outpouring of love and support from our family, community, friends, and even strangers. This has been one of the darkest and most difficult times in our lives, however, the kindness and love we've received from so many around us has given us so much hope and inspiration. The messages, donations, and pure kindness have lifted us up when we've needed it most. We are also thankful for the generous support we've received through the GoFundMe campaign launched by our family which will help us begin rebuilding our lives. For those who wish to contribute, you can find the fundraiser at this link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/aid-the-zalenski-family-in-overcoming-horrible-tragedy.

Trey and Jett were our two-family dogs, who will forever be missed. They both acted quickly and fearlessly by notifying Stacy that danger was present and alerting us of the fire, ultimately saving our lives. It's because of them that we were all able to mobilize and get out of our house. Here is a link to a fundraiser for them:

Trey and Jett's fundraising page for Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)

As we continue to heal and piece our lives back together, we remain eager to learn more about the motive and intent behind this tragic event. We trust in the ongoing efforts of the Bucks County authorities and are confident that the investigation will provide the answers we seek. Our family is so grateful to have what feels like the entire community standing behind us. As we begin rebuilding our lives, we kindly ask for space, time, and your patience. 

Thank you so much for standing with us and for having our back."