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Crime Tea

Actor Matthew Camp’s Home Burned Down In Apparent Hate Crime

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“On January 14th,” actor Matthew Camp wrote on Instagram Monday morning, “An arsonist poured gasoline on the front porch of my home and set it on fire in an apparent hate crime.”

“I was asleep inside,” he continued. “I am alive to face this person one day but everything I have ever owned is gone. Share this story because queer people are still under attack all over the world. Our voices will not be silenced.  Right now I’m just living day to day trying to piece together what’s left. If you are able to help theres a link in my bio. Thank you for the love and support and continued fight to keep our queer families safe.”

 

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A post shared by Matthew Camp (@matthewcamp)

On Thursday morning,  the house located in Poughkeepsie, New York and which formerly belonged to Camp’s dear friend, the artist and writer Joe Mendillo aka Joe Netherworld was burned beyond repair.

 

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A post shared by Matthew Camp (@matthewcamp)

Video camera footage shows a man carrying gas canisters to accelerate the fire.

According to The Poughkeepsie Journal: A suspicious fire damaged a historic home in Poughkeepsie early Thursday, City Fire Chief Mark Johnson said. The fire decimated the home, known to many as the “Halloween House,” on Route 44 and South Clinton Street, and displaced 10 people. The blaze closed the eastbound arterial through the morning. Multiple trucks were along the road as firefighters worked to combat the flames. Some doused the upper floor of the building from atop a ladder.

The fire started shortly before 5:30 a.m. Everyone inside the home was able to escape and there were no injuries, according to city Councilmember Chris Petsas.

The historic home’s nickname stems from the decorations that can be seen both inside and out of the residence, as well as a hearse that used to sit in the driveway. There is also a sign over the garage that says “Devil’s Garage,” according to Mayor Rob Rolison.

Friends of Camp have started a GoFundMe to help him recover. You can donate here.

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