Necedah Woman Faces a Jury for Arson

By Joe Bachman
A 44-year-old woman will face a jury after police say she set fire to the Norwood Health Care building.
Kristin Steen, of Necedah, is charged with arson, injury by negligent use of fire, and resisting an officer. According to police reports, on Apr. 3, 2015, an officer was dispatched to Norwood Health Care facilities in Marshfield regarding a report of a fire.
The officer was informed by staff members outside of the building that Steen set the fire inside and was refusing to leave the facility. After the officer made multiple attempts to ask Steen to leave, officers tried grabbing Steen to escort her out of the building. Steen resisted the officers until forced to the ground and put in handcuffs to be taken out of the facility.
Reports state that Steen attempted to commit suicide by placing tissues around her on her bed and then lighting them on fire. The fire moved to the blanket and pillow on the bed and created a larger fire. During employees’ attempts to put out the fire with an extinguisher, three employees suffered from smoke inhalation and were later transported to a nearby hospital.
If convicted, Steen faces up to three years and six months imprisonment and up to $10,000 in fines. Her 12 person jury trial is scheduled from Feb. 10 to Feb. 12.