A Wisconsin man is facing attempted murder charges after police say he set his estranged wife’s garage on fire — with her asleep inside — just weeks after she filed for divorce.
Nicholas Grundman, 47, of Greenville, Wisconsin, was arrested on March 31 at a construction site where he was working. Authorities say just hours before setting the fire, he allegedly told his wife over the phone: “If I can’t have you, no one is going to have you.”
The woman told police she was fast asleep when one of her cats began pawing at her face. She woke up to find her house already filled with smoke. She managed to escape safely along with her three cats and two dogs.
Investigators found accelerant at the scene. When questioned by police, Grundman allegedly admitted he accessed the garage that night and “used gasoline” to start the fire.
Grundman is currently held at Outagamie County Jail on a $1 million cash bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for April 14.
The full details of what led to this terrifying night — including the months of alleged stalking, harassment, and what police found in his backpack at the time of arrest — are covered in the complete report.
