NJ woman charged after failed late-night hookup sparks house fire! Taija Russell upset after her 4am ‘sex date’ fell asleep and didn’t answer her knocking, set the house on fire and fled ‘
Taija Russell, 29, was arrested last week after she allegedly torched the man’s home in Woodbury, New Jersey in the early hours of August 4
The arsonist victim reportedly was cross because the homeowner asked her over for late-night sex but fell asleep and did not hear her knocking on his front door
Police said she sent him a series of angry text messages saying: ‘I see you wanna die’ and ‘You wasted my money to come out here’
She allegedly went to a gas station to buy lighter fluid, matches and a lighter – torched the house and fled
Firefighters who arrived to find the home completely engulfed in flames immediately recognized signs of arson at the home, the home was completely destroyed by the fire
The man was rushed to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation, as well as first and second degree burns
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage before pinpointing a suspect, who they say is Taija Russell
The man who suffered smoke inhalation, as well as first and second degree burns, told police Russell was his ‘side chick’ and said he had invited her over for sex.
Russell was charged with attempted murder, aggravated arson, endangering and criminal mischief

Arson suspect: Taija Russell, [photo], was arrested last week and charged with attempted murder, aggravated arson, endangering and criminal mischief, after she allegedly torched the man’s home in Woodbury, New Jersey in the early hours of Aug 4
A woman has been accused of burning down a man’s house after he called her for sex at 4am but fell asleep before she arrived.
Taija Russell, 29, was arrested last week after she allegedly torched the man’s home in Woodbury, New Jersey in the early hours of August 4. The victim is believed to have asked Russell over for late-night sex but fell asleep and did not hear her knocking on his front door.
Russell then sent him a series of angry text messages saying: ‘I see you wanna die’ and ‘You wasted my money to come out here’, police said.
She then allegedly went to a nearby gas station to buy lighter fluid, matches and a lighter at 4am.
After starting the fire outside the doorway of the man’s home, she fled.
The man woke at about 4.30am to find his home ablaze and had to escape through a window.
He ran to the nearby police station to alert them of the fire. Police said the man was covered in soot and ash. He also suffered from smoke inhalation and second degree burns
They said the home was completely destroyed by the fire. Investigators said they immediately recognized signs of arson at the home and set up a crime scene
Investigators said they immediately recognized signs of arson at the home and set up a crime scene. They said the home was completely destroyed by the fire.
The man was rushed to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation, as well as first and second degree burns.
Investigators said they interviewed neighbors and reviewed hours worth of surveillance footage before pinpointing a suspect, who they say is Taija Russell.
Police then found the text messages from Russell on the victim’s phone and said there were eight missed calls from her.
The victim allegedly told police that Russell was his ‘side chick’ and said he had invited her over for sex.
Russell was charged with attempted murder, aggravated arson, endangering and criminal mischief.
Leave a Reply