911 operator accused of setting Thomasville home on fire with ‘intent to injure or prejudice’ husband, warrants say

THOMASVILLE, N.C. (WGHP) — Warrants are revealing new details after a High Point 911 telecommunicator was arrested and charged with burning down the home she shared with her husband, a High Point police officer.

The fire happened on Wednesday, July 10, at a home on Grace Drive in Thomasville, where Theresa Allison Varner, 39, lived with her husband. The community quickly rallied around the pair in support after they lost their home and two of their pets were killed.

Then, on Friday, the Thomasville Police Department announced that Varner had been charged with two counts of first-degree arson, second-degree arson, felonious burning of personal property and two counts of felonious cruelty to animals.

According to warrants, the first-degree arson charges are for the damage caused by the fire to neighboring homes, and the felony cruelty to animals charges were connected to the two pets that died in the fire.

The second-degree arson is specific to the fire set at the home in which Varner was living, stating that she “unlawfully, willfully, and feloniously” burned the house.

Varner is accused of setting fire to “all” of the clothing and personal items in the home.

“This act was done with the intent to injure or prejudice [High Point officer],” the warrants state.

Varner was working as a 911 master telecommunicator for High Point, but she was put on paid administrative leave after being charged. The terms of her bond stated that she was not allowed to possess firearms and had to surrender her concealed carry permit.

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