Woman found guilty of setting fire to ex-boyfriend’s West Ashley home

CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – A woman was found guilty Friday of burglarizing and setting fire to her ex-boyfriend’s West Ashley home.

The incident began on the morning of February 8, 2020, when Toya Steward arrived unexpectedly at the victim’s Wood Avenue home after the pair had broken up over Steward harassing the victim’s friends on social media.

Officials with the Ninth Judicial Circuit explained that although the victim was not home, Steward continued to bang on his door while yelling profanities for roughly two hours.

A roommate, who was home at the time, refused to answer because of Steward’s behavior. Later that day, the roommate saw Steward arrive and get out of her vehicle “in a fit of rage,” the solicitor’s office said.

Steward sent many harassing and threatening messages to the victim, telling him that she was going into his house to get her things back. She was told to leave multiple times.

Officials said the roommate was hiding in a bathroom when they heard Steward shatter glass on the back door, breaking into the home. At one point, officials said Stewart took a five-gallon gas can from the backyard and poured gasoline throughout the entire house.

“The roommate was still in the bathroom when he suddenly heard an explosion,” the solicitor’s office said. “He touched the bathroom doorknob making sure it wasn’t hot and opened the door to see the house in flames and engulfed in smoke.”

The man was able to make it out safely.

Officials with the solicitor’s office said Steward left clues ensuring the victim knew she had been there while continuing to call and text the victim – those irate voicemails were played during a five-day trial that concluded last week.

Detectives with the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) found Steward at her apartment where she admitted to going into the victim’s home earlier in the day, and again to see the house on fire.

“Her car was taken into evidence for processing and a SLED expert testified that gasoline was found on her driver’s side floor mat. Prosecutors argued it was transferred by Steward when she stepped in the gasoline while she was setting the house on fire,” the solicitor’s office explained.

Cell phone records also showed that Steward was at the home just before the fire began. She also called the victim 127 times and texted him 141 times that day.

Steward was found guilty of second-degree arson and second-degree burglary.

Judge Deadra Jefferson sentenced her to 15 years, suspended to 10 years on the arson charge and 10 years suspended to seven years followed by five years probation for burglary.

She was found not guilty of attempted murder.

During the trial, Asst. Solicitor Nina Savas argued that Steward’s actions that day were unjustifiable and stated the house fire put the lives of the firefighters, first responders, neighbors, and the roommate at risk, adding that Steward’s reckless behavior called for the prison sentence Judge Jefferson gave her.