Windham Woman Charged With Aiding Attempted Murder Following Forensic Investigation Into 2024 Thompson Arson

Cassandra Lee Heredia faces aiding attempted murder charges for a 2024 arson in Thompson, CT. DNA and suspect statements linked her to the drug-related fire.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 17, 2026, 4:45 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from WFSB

A Delayed Resolution to a Violent Arson Case

Connecticut State Police have formalized charges against a third suspect in a complex investigation involving a life-threatening house fire in Thompson. Cassandra Lee Heredia, a 32-year-old resident of Windham, was recently apprehended and charged with aiding attempted murder and conspiracy to commit arson. The arrest marks a significant breakthrough in a case that dates back to May 2024, demonstrating the long-term commitment of fire marshals and state troopers to resolving incidents of intentional violence that endanger residential neighborhoods.

Forensic Evidence and Accelerant Detection

The investigation into the fire, which occurred in the North Grosvenordale section of town on May 13, 2024, was immediately categorized as suspicious by responding authorities. State police investigators determined that the blaze had been intentionally set in three distinct locations within the structure to ensure maximum devastation. Laboratory analysis of samples taken from the scene confirmed the presence of gasoline, and a discarded gas can discovered approximately one-third of a mile away provided a physical link to the perpetrators' movements.

Digital Footprints and DNA Linkage

The path to identifying the suspects was paved by a combination of physical evidence and digital forensics. Troopers recovered an iPhone near the scene of the fire, which was subsequently processed for biological traces. DNA recovered from the device provided a direct link to two other men, Walter Lawson and James Chenevert, who were already under scrutiny by law enforcement. This technical evidence allowed investigators to piece together the group's presence at the scene, effectively dismantling their initial anonymity.