An unscrupulous stepmum has been busted for forcing her stepchild to set fire to their home – twice – so she could cash in on the insurance payout.

State investigators alleged that Courtney Sellers, 34, of Pine Circle, Screven County, in the US state of Georgia, made her unnamed stepchild start a fire in their home at least twice.

This is according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which quoted Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King as saying in a statement on Monday, 24th July: “Based on the footage and interviews conducted, investigators determined that Ms. Sellers compelled her stepchild to start a fire inside the home for insurance money on two separate occasions.”

The Jesup Fire Department reportedly contacted the State Fire Marshal’s Office about a blaze at the home on 14th July.

Sellers was arrested on 18th July and charged with arson, insurance fraud, aggravated assault and cruelty to children, according to local media.

She is being held at the Wayne County Jail.

It is currently unclear how much money Sellers allegedly cashed in on, although local media reported that the average fire claim payout totalled about USD 77,000 (GBP 59.976) in 2022.