Woman, Teen Set Gurnee Mills Bathroom On Fire: Police

By Sam Borcia, the Lake & McHenry County Scanner

A Zion woman and a juvenile were both charged after police say the two set a bathroom on fire at Gurnee Mills mall, causing significant damage.

Susan R. Davis, 51, of Zion, was charged with two counts of aggravated arson, a Class X felony, two counts of arson and one count of criminal damage to property by means of fire.

The Gurnee Police Department and Gurnee Fire Department responded around 5:22 p.m. February 6 to Gurnee Mills, 6170 Route 132 in Gurnee.

Dispatchers received a call of smoke coming from the bathrooms inside the building, according to Gurnee Police Department Public Information Officer Shawn Gaylor.

Officers discovered a small fire had been intentionally set inside the bathroom, causing significant damage.

Gurnee police investigators along with building security personnel reviewed surveillance videos from the time of the incident.

Detectives identified Davis and a 16-year-old as the suspects who started the fire. The motive of the fire is unknown.

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Both suspects were taken into custody six days later on February 12. The charges against the 16-year-old are being pursued through the juvenile court system.

A grand jury indicted Davis on Wednesday. The indictment says that the damage caused to the bathrooms was between $10,000 and $100,000.

An arraignment hearing is scheduled for Thursday. Davis remains held in the Lake County Jail on a $200,000 bond.

Lake and McHenry County Scanner is a local breaking news website covering issues that matter such as shootings, stabbings, house fires, kidnappings, car accidents, and more around Lake County and McHenry County.