MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - The investigation is underway after cars were set on fire in the East Memphis neighborhood of Colonial Ares, but victims fear the arsonists may never be caught.
“Just actually seeing it go up in flames was the hardest part and having to, like, witness it and watch everything burn up,” said victim Amy Mozingo.
To say Mozingo felt hopeless is an understatement; just three months away from paying it off, her Toyota Scion was scorched.
“I've had that car for five years. My parents gave it to me when I was 16, so devastation and just I'm upset and I just want to know who did this to me.”
She's not alone. A man living in this neighborhood experienced the exact same thing at almost the same time.
“It's like people say you rub your eyes and look again and that's what I did, I mean I was in total shock,” Hermes Rosa said.
He says his Ford Mustang had low mileage and drove like a dream. A seared street and patch of grass marks where his ride was put out to pasture.
“I just couldn't understand it. I was totally in denial for a few minutes there,” Rosa said.
Neighbors did not see the cars set on fire, only the aftermath. But surveillance video offers clues.
“You can kind of see someone pull up in front of our driveway here. Then you see them turn around and come back and you'll see their headlights show up again for just a split second, shortly after it cuts off you'll see the explosion light up the entire yard,” said David Underwood.
Days after the fires, Amy Mozingo has this message for whoever destroyed the two cars.
“This isn't a prank and it's not something that's ok to do to people. This is thousands of dollars and something personal towards me, Mr. Rosa's mother gave him that car so this is not, this is not fair,” Mozingo said.
If you have any information about these car fires call CrimeStoppers at (901) 528-CASH (2274) or the Arson Hotline at 1-800-762-3017.
