VIRGINIA BEACH — Monica Lamping Bogart, the woman who was declared missing with her children hours after her Virginia Beach home burned down in January, was charged with arson on Monday.
Lamping-Bogart was charged with arson in connection to a Jan. 22 fire that destroyed a Sullivan Boulevard home that she was renting, according to the Virginia Beach Fire Department.
A magistrate denied Lamping-Bogart bond on Monday.
A neighbor reported the fire in Lamping-Bogart’s home, located at 4932 Sullivan Blvd., around 3:30 a.m. The four people who lived in the home — Lamping-Bogart, her two children
and her roommate — were not there when the fire broke out.
Lamping-Bogart’s roommate, Courtney Bullock, lost two of her pets from smoke inhalation: a 9-month-old husky named Nevada and a 3-year-old cat named Boss.
Lamping-Bogart, her 7-year-old son, Kai, and 9-month-old daughter, Oria, were found safe on Jan. 25 at a North Carolina “off-the-grid” commune, Bullock said.
Kai returned to Virginia and has been living with his father, Kevin Lamping.
“Life has been great and Kai had adjusted amazingly! His welfare has always been our top concern,” Kevin Lamping said on Monday in a Facebook message.
On Jan. 26, the VBFD announced that a space heater left on in an upstairs bedroom was the cause of the fire.
Lamping-Bogart is currently being held at the Virginia Beach City Jail. Other charges are pending against her.
Mayfield can be read at adrienne.m@wydaily.com.
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Virginia Beach police: Monica Lamping, children found safe
Space heater determined as cause of Sullivan Boulevard fire, officials say
Police: Virginia Beach woman and her children missing hours after house catches on fire
Two pets die in Virginia Beach house fire on Sunday, resident missing
