Bywater arson victims relieved that suspect is in custody

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Victims of a Bywater arson attack said they are relieved the alleged arsonist is now in custody but that recovery will be slow.

Authorities arrested 35-year-old Kyle Thomsen Tuesday night. They accuse him of setting fire to nine cars and one house in the neighborhood early Monday morning.

On Wednesday afternoon, about half of the cars torched had been towed from Bywater streets.

RELATED: Bywater arson suspect Kyle Thomsen booked with 13 counts, authorities say

“I think that’s a step in the right direction, and I really want to thank the city for taking action on that and quickly,” said Chris Bentivegna, who lost his car to the alleged arson spree.

Residents feared for safety

Todd and Ben Perley escaped their home Monday when they saw the flames. Ben Perley said four people live in the house.

“He could have killed us,” Ben Perley said.

The couple said knowing Thomsen is in jail just two days later lifts a weight off their shoulders.

“Everybody in the neighborhood was really nervous that he was still on the loose and that he could just snap and do this again,” Todd Perley said. “My husband has been sleeping with a fire extinguisher next to the side of the bed for the last few days.”

Bentivegna agreed the arrest brought relief.

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• Krewe of Red Beans raises $5,000 for Bywater arson victims

“The fact that they have somebody and we know who the person is and we know a name and there seems to be a lot of evidence against that person does make me feel more comfortable,” he said.

Damage assessment begins

The Perleys’ Dauphine Street home is now without electricity, and they’ll need to restart a construction project on the house. They say they have a road of bureaucracy ahead of them.

“This balcony was two weeks from being finished, very expensive job, and now, they have to start over,” Ben Perley said.

Ben Perley had a message for Thomsen.

“If you do something like this, you have to know that you’re going to get caught. No matter what’s going on in your life, it is not okay to go through the Bywater setting things on fire. Like, get some help. Don’t act it out like that,” he said.

Bentivegna said he wants answers.

“I think that’d be the only thing that I’d want out of this more than knowing that he’s behind bars is just why? Like really why? Like in a conversation, tell me why you did that?” he said.

Authorities arrested Thomsen at his French Quarter workplace Tuesday night. The business declined comment on his arrest.

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