A mother and son were arrested after a fire heavily damaged the Walker County Public Defense Department in downtown Jasper early Saturday morning.
During a press conference on Thursday, Jasper Police announced that 19-year-old Joseph Cole Witten Korachuk and his mother, 42-year-old Amanda Joe Howard Kurichok, were charged with third-degree arson, third-degree robbery, and second-degree property theft. Both have been taken into custody at the Walker County Jail.
Investigators reported that the fire broke out around 4:28 a.m. on July 5 at the intersection of 19th Avenue and 4th Avenue. Firefighters arrived shortly thereafter and found significant smoke and flames coming from the public defense facility. They attempted to enter the building, but due to potentially dangerous conditions, they shifted to a defensive approach to control the fire, remaining on-site for over 12 hours.
The accompanying law office did sustain considerable water and smoke damage, but thanks to the firefighting efforts, the blaze did not spread further along the block. Unfortunately, the public defense office, including all its files and documents, was completely destroyed, though no injuries were reported.
The investigation was initiated following reports from residents about suspicious behavior in the area. Surveillance videos from local businesses and public facilities captured two individuals removing items from the property during the fire. Authorities identified the suspects, interviewed them, and recovered several stolen items, including firearms and identification cards taken from a lawyer’s desk.
Police mentioned that both Korachuk and Kurichok had been homeless for several years and struggled with addiction issues.
Fire Chief Chris Upton expressed pride in the efforts of his team, stating, “I couldn’t be more proud of the Jasper Fire Department firefighters and officers, and I would like to especially thank the community members who showed support during our efforts on Saturday.”
Police Chief Jay Poe also commended the collaboration and public involvement that contributed to the arrests. “The outcome of these two arrests is a result of the team’s collective effort,” Poe noted. “The relationship we have with the community in Jasper is crucial; they feel comfortable reaching out to us when something seems off. It’s great to see different agencies working together harmoniously to resolve this case.”
The Jasper Police Department, along with Fire Rescue and several local departments, collaborated on the investigation with the Alabama Fire Department’s Office and the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives agency, as well as the Walker County District Attorney’s Office.
