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Palm Bay, FL – April 10, 2025 – Tiffini Dawn Fairchild, a 55-year-old woman accused of setting fire to her residence and killing her two dogs, has been arrested in connection with the April 3, 2025, incident at 3910 Dixie Hwy in Palm Bay, Florida. Fairchild faces charges of arson and two counts of animal cruelty, as confirmed by court records from Brevard County.
The arrest follows an investigation by the Palm Bay Police Department and the Bureau of Fire, Arson, and Explosives Investigations, which determined that Fairchild intentionally set fire to her home after drowning her two dogs in a bathtub. The fire, reported at approximately 4:00 a.m. on April 3, caused significant damage to the trailer, and the gruesome discovery of the dogs—found without burns or soot, indicating they were killed prior to the fire—shocked responding officers.
Court documents reveal two active cases against Fairchild. She is charged with two counts of cruelty to animals causing pain or suffering, stemming from the drowning of her dogs and one count of arson of a structure or conveyance, related to the intentional fire that destroyed her residence.
Detective Casey Rae of the Palm Bay Police Department, led the investigation and interviewed Fairchild shortly after the fire. In a sworn statement, Fairchild admitted to drowning her dogs and setting multiple fires throughout the home using lighter fluid. She further confessed to walking to nearby railroad tracks with the intent to commit suicide, a plan she did not follow through with. Witnesses later identified Fairchild near the tracks, approximately one mile from the scene, around 5:47 a.m. that morning.
Detective John Clement of the Bureau of Fire, Arson, and Explosives Investigations conducted a detailed examination of the scene, identifying multiple points of origin for the fire, including a pile of charcoal briquets in the living area and lighter fluid in the hallway and kitchen. His findings ruled out accidental causes, confirming the fire was deliberately set.
The investigation also uncovered a handwritten note from Fairchild to her landlord, expressing her inability to pay rent and her decision to leave, stating, “My dogs will go with me in spirit.” The property manager, Lorraine Good, confirmed Fairchild was behind on rent and facing eviction, though she had been given leniency due to her protective nature over the property.
Fairchild was initially taken into protective custody under Florida’s Baker Act for a mental health evaluation but was released shortly after. An arrest warrant was issued on April 4, 2025, and Fairchild has since been apprehended.
The community of Palm Bay remains shaken by the incident, particularly the tragic loss of the two dogs, one larger and one smaller, whose necropsies are pending to confirm the exact cause of death. The dogs were found in a bathtub with a reddish substance—believed to be blood—in their mouths and noses, further supporting the conclusion of drowning.
Fairchild is now in custody awaiting further legal proceedings. The State Fire Marshall is also pursuing additional charges related to the arson. The case has drawn significant attention in Brevard County, with residents expressing outrage over the cruelty inflicted on the animals and the destruction of the property.
Further updates on Fairchild’s court proceedings are expected as the cases progress. Anyone with additional information related to the incident is encouraged to contact the Palm Bay Police Department or the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.
