The former Connecticut State Trooper accused of burning down his brother's home in the Higganum village of Haddam believed his brother had cheated him out of a large inheritance and wanted revenge, according to court documents.
Ronald Carlson, 50, of Portsmouth, Virginia, faced a judge on charges of arson and burglary Monday. He's accused of setting fire to his brother's raised ranch at 575 Candlewood Hill Road the morning of Thursday, Oct. 16.
According to court documents, Carlson told authorities he had been planning the arson for seven years and that his brother Tom had cheated him out of $2.3 million from their parents.
Ron Carlson told investigators he had "willingly and knowingly" burned down his brother's home. He decided to light the fire on Oct. 14 and left Virginia at noon Oct. 15.
He spent the night at a hotel and told authorities he stayed up "thinking about how successful it was going to be, how good it was going to be to administrate [his] own justice," according to the documents.
Ron Carlson admitted to buying gas cans and forcing his way through the front door, then spreading fuel evenly throughout the home and detached garage. He told authorities he piled wood in the middle of the house and lit matches, then drove around town waiting for his brother to get home so he could confront him, according to the documents.
When Tom Carlson and his family arrived at the scene, Ron Carlson stormed up the driveway and started screaming, "I burnt down your [expletive] house!" and "You stole $2.8 million from Mom! How do you like me now?" Tom Carlson allegedly told investigators.
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Tom Carlson's ex-wife told police Ron Carlson has a "history of aggressive behavior." The couple's son, Scott, said Ron Carlson became so violent toward his father several years ago that he called the police. The brothers had not spoken since, according to the documents.
State police spokesperson Trooper First Class Kelly Grant said Ronald Carlson was a Connecticut State Trooper from January 1987 to October 1988, when he was fired. The reason for his termination is unclear.
Police said Ron Carlson turned himself in the day of the blaze. A town official said Ron Carlson used five gallons of gasoline and opened all home's the windows.
His arms and face were burned in the blaze, so authorities brought him to Westbrook's Shoreline Clinic and transferred him to the Bridgeport Hospital Burn Unit.
After his release from the hospital, Ron Carlson was charged with two counts of first-degree arson and one count of third-degree burglary. He was arraigned in Middletown on Monday, where a judge raised his bond from $500,000 to $1 million.
Haddam First Selectwoman Melissa Schlag has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for the Tom Carlson. Donations are also being collected at the town hall and at Ter's Package Store in Higganum.
"I am heartbroken for the Carlson family. My thoughts are with them at this time and the Haddam/Higganum community is here for them," Schlag said in a statement Thursday night.
Ron Carlson is due back in court Nov. 4.
