Arrest Made In College Fires
Friday, March 6, 2009 2:51 PM
By Lot Tan
Jordan Cullen, a student at the college, appeared before a judge Friday on two counts of aggravated arson. Bond was set on $200,000.
Police say Cullen set five small blazes just before 11 a.m. Thursday, two in the Seton Center and three in the art building.
Students on campus described Cullen as someone who craved attention. ONN's Lot Tan spoke with a woman who lives on her floor and said in the back of her mind she thought that Cullen could have been the one who set the fires.
"She just really wanted attention from everyone. She really loved it, annoying you. You could tell she's craving attention badly," said student Nicollete Cipollone.
Cipollone saw and talked to Jordan Cullen everyday. They both lived on the second floor at the Seton Center dorms.
The fires forced all the students to evacuate. One student was hurt, when she had a hard time breathing.
Another student, 28-year-old Daviene Hutsell died at a hospital after having a seizure during the fires.
Her friends say she still would be alive today if the fires never happened.
"The stress of everything my friend said stress of the day we don't think that would've happened if it didn't hold that person responsible," said Andrea Freel.
Cipollone said she saw Cullen Thursday night at Target and Cullen acted like nothing happened.
"It was disgusting. She was trying on clothes and laughing and giggling with her friends" said Cipollone.
ONN affiliate WKRC-TV reported that court documents said Cullen was targeting another woman when she set the fires. Cullen is a member of the college tennis team and is an art education major.
The college's athletic page says Cullen is a graduate of Summit Country Day high school.
She is a four year varsity letter winner in tennis and is credited with helping her team reach the state tournament her junior year.
Her father, Francis Cullen, is a distinguished research professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of Cincinnati.
School officials say grief counselors are on campus and are available for anyone who needs to talk.
Friday is the last day before students head out for spring break.
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