Woman Charged with Arson in Fire That Destroyed Historic Annville Institute Building

ANNVILLE, Ky. — A woman has been arrested and federally charged in connection with a fire that devastated a historic building in Jackson County late last month.

According to court documents, Shelia Clemons was taken into custody on Wednesday and is facing a federal charge of arson of property affecting interstate commerce. The charge stems from a fire that broke out during the night of July 31 at the Old Annville Institute, a nearly century-old structure that was home to Grace Covenant Ministries.

The building, originally constructed in 1922, was a local landmark. The blaze caused catastrophic damage, with most of the walls collapsing as flames quickly consumed the main section of the facility. Due to the scale of the destruction, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) were called in to assist with the investigation.

Court documents reveal that Clemons, who is described as the estranged wife of the property’s groundskeeper, admitted to intentionally setting the fire.

Clemons is currently being held at the Laurel County Correctional Center. Further court proceedings are pending.

The incident has sent shockwaves through the Annville community, where the institute stood as a symbol of local heritage and service for more than 100 years.