Husband Speaks Out On Lutz Woman Who Set Fire To Home And Dogs

LUTZ. FL – The estranged husband of the Lutz woman charged with burning down her house at 23547 Turtle Lakes Road in Lutz Aug. 25 with her dogs inside said he's still in shock after hearing the news.

Sean Corrigan has worked for a private security contractor in Iraq for four years and was out of the country at the time Brandi Corrigan reportedly burned down their home. He’s not scheduled to return to the United States until January.

“I am devastated,” he said. “I had no clue. I never thought anything like this would happen. I never expected her to hurt the dogs. I hope she never gets out of prison for what she did.”

Corrigan believes the woman he married in December 2011 was acting out of revenge because he intended to divorce her.

“I think what motivated her was that she was high on meth and knew I was going to divorce her because of her cheating," he said.

Of the seven dogs belonging to the couple, Corrigan said the American Staffordshire terrier, Denali, was his favorite. He believes that’s why Brandi Corrigan, 40, poured an accelerant on Denali before setting the house on fire. He said she wanted the dog to suffer.

If that was her intention, then Brandi Corrigan succeeded. Denali has third-degree burns and is under the care of BluePearl Veterinary Partners in Tampa, which said the dog was in excruciating pain in the days after Pasco Fire Rescue saved her from the house fire.

The Suncoast Animal League of Palm Harbor took Denali to BluePearl after receiving custody of the dog from Pasco County Animal Services. Veterinarian Dr. Sylvia Lee said the injuries to the dog were so severe, she wasn’t sure Denali would pull through. But the dog proved she had a strong will to live. She’s now walking and eating.

Corrigan said the remainder of the dogs are in good hands.

“An amazing person that works at my vet, Jessica, has Esco and her friend has Esco's twin, Capone," he said. “My friend has Bella the German shepherd and her friend has Buddy the beagle. My parents have my two older dogs, Mustang and Bullitt."

Corrigan said he found out about the fire from a neighbor who called him.

He said he knew his estranged wife was angry but never anticipated this outcome.

According to Corrigan, Brandi Corrigan became irrational on Aug. 25 when Corrigan called her to say he found a videotape showing her cheating on him.

“She started to yell and cuss at me so I hung up,” he said. “I made a call to my parents asking them to pick up two of my older dogs, a tool box and my guns that were in the house.”

When his parents arrived at his house, Corrigan said his estranged wife was allegedly at a hotel with her lover at the time. However, she learned that Corrigan's parents were at the house and called the sheriff’s office, accusing them of trying to break into the house.

“I spoke to a deputy and told him what happened and how my parents were retrieving some of my belongings,” he said. “My parents left with what they came to get.”

Corrigan said his estranged wife arrived about 10 minutes after his parents left.

“Brandi called my phone, screaming and saying she was happy I found out she cheated,” he said.

Sean Corrigan had installed security cameras in and around his house, which he could monitor remotely.

“I call up the video and see her trashing the house and smoking something,” he said. “Then the cameras shut off.”

He said he never expected that she would try to hurt their dogs, who are like children to them.

"She never told me at any point that she was planning to hurt the dogs," he said.

Therefore, after working an eight-hour night shift and then listening to his estranged wife yell at him on the phone, Corrigan went to sleep.

“A couple of hours later, I get a call from my neighbor saying my house is on fire," he said.

Pasco Fire Rescue responded to the fire at 7:50 a.m. on Aug. 25.

Shortly after Corrigan received the dreaded new from his neighbor, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office called to tell him about the fire and the fact there were five dogs in the house at the time.”

Pasco County Fire Rescue said Denali and Esco were separated from the other three dogs and both were injured in the fire although Denali’s injuries were most severe due to an accelerant that was poured on her head and neck.

The other dogs suffered from smoke inhalation but were not burned. There are conflicting reports on where the three other dogs were at the time of the fire. Some reports say the three dogs were in the house and others maintain they were in the back yard.

Corrigan said he was horrified when he learned of Denali’s condition.

“It kills me that Brandi did this,” he said. “It kills me seeing my animals like this and losing everything.”

Corrigan said he contacted an attorney and filed for divorce on Aug. 27.

“I do not want anything to do with her,” he said. “This last year, Brandi changed. I’m not sure how long she has been on meth. I’ve never seen her do it or I guess she would hide it from me.”

In addition to a felony arson charge, Brandi Corrigan was charged with possession of methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

The animal league is also pressing for the sheriff’s office to charge her with felony animal abuse.

Unable to make the $50.000 bail, she is being held at the Land O’ Lakes Detention Center where she has filed for a bail reduction hearing. The hearing is set for 2 p.m. Sept. 27 at the Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center in Pasco County. Corrigan was previously arrested by the Pasco County Sheriff's Office for domestic violence, aggravated assault and driving under the influence.

The league is seeking donations for Denali's mounting medical bills. The community can help by clicking the "Donation" button at the top of the Facebook page.

Images via Suncoast Animal League and Sean Corrigan

Related stories:

There's New Hope For Dog Set On Fire By Owner

Fate Of Dog Burned When Owner Set Fire To House Uncertain

Lutz Woman Charged With Setting Fire To Home With 8 Dogs Inside

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