Family feels targeted after Decatur Co. home destroyed in fire

DECATUR COUNTY, Tenn. — A Decatur County family says they’re in fear for their lives after they say their home is attacked a second time, this time in a destructive fire. They say with so many unexplained attacks in less than a year, they believe this latest fire was intentionally set.

Late Sunday night, three generations of the Shaw family were left without a home after theirs went up in flames.

“Everyone did make it out alive, thankfully,” the homeowner’s sister, Jennifer Costigan, said.

Only ruins are left of a three-story, five-bedroom home after it burned to the ground Sunday night.

Seven members of the Shaw family lived there. After other incidents and a fire earlier this year, they think this was arson.

“I could have lost my entire family in this house,” Costigan said. “To me, if the preventative measures would have been taken, this would not have ever happened.”

Previous incidents include the words “You will die” carved into their car, their pool being slashed and their son being cut with a knife during a break-in. Decatur County Sheriff Keith Byrd says they’ve responded to about 30 incidents at the home but never have had any solid leads.

“Right know, we are all in fear for their lives to the fact that we don’t even want anyone to know where they are staying at right now,” Costigan said.

After vandalism and break-ins prior to this fire, the homeowners say they did try to catch the suspect using deer cameras, but time and time again the SD-card disappeared.

Because of past incidents, the sheriff says they watched the house until arson investigators came Wednesday. But the family feels more could have been done sooner.

“They’ve not gone as far to even question anybody or to see if they have an alibi for any of these instances,” Costigan said.

Through the fire, the Shaw family is thankful for neighbors’ support.

“A lot of the community has come together,” Costigan said. “That’s the great thing about living in a small community is that everybody comes together to help, and we’re very thankful for them.”

The Shaw family is currently staying in a hotel. They’ve received help from the Red Cross, and Scotts Hill Elementary is collecting furniture donations. Officers tell us the investigation into the fire continues.