Photographer burns off his eyebrows setting house ablaze for photo op, Utah cops say

A Utah photographer is facing charges after police said he set a house on fire on Valentine’s Day to take pictures.

Thomas Fox Shea, 48, has been charged with arson and criminal trespass, according to Gephardt Daily.

On Feb. 14, someone reported a fire in Woodland to Summit County officers, the outlet reported. A man at the scene was later identified as Shea.

When officers found Shea, his eyebrows and facial hair had been burned and part of his coat had melted, KPCW reported. He told police he was a photographer and had seen smoke coming from the house, the outlet reported.

He was treated at a hospital and after signs of arson were discovered, Shea admitted to police “that he started the fire in order to photograph it,” according to KPCW.

“Shea stated he mounted his cellphone on a tripod to video him lighting the fires. Shea said he lit two fires in the residence and put the fires out with the fire extinguisher. Shea stated he lit a third fire in the residence and the fire got out of control,” KSL reported, quoting a police affidavit.

He told police that he went to the vacant house and used a container filled with gas to set the fires, KSL reported. He also said that he brought photography equipment and a fire extinguisher.

This story was originally published February 20, 2020 at 7:28 PM with the headline "Photographer burns off his eyebrows setting house ablaze for photo op, Utah cops say."