After a fire destroyed her family’s residence, Donna Marie Maddox was found guilty of arson in the first degree and two counts of insurance fraud. Following the denial of her motion for new trial as amended, Maddox filed this appeal. Maddox contends that the trial court erred by rejecting her ineffective assistance claim, denying her motion to suppress, giving a jury charge on deliberate indifference, and violating her right to a thorough cross-examination of a witness. Having found no reversible error, we affirm. On appeal, the evidence must be considered in a light most favorable to the verdict, and Maddox no longer enjoys the presumption of innocence. Lawrence v. State , 238 Ga. App. 102 517 SE2d 822 1999. So considered, the evidence shows that on February 17, 2001, the duplex where Maddox was living with her family was intentionally set ablaze. At the time of the fire, Maddox and her family were facing imminent eviction as a result of foreclosure. Before the night of the fire, Maddox and her son, eighteen-year-old David Maddox, had discussed burning the house down. Shortly before the fire, David rented a storage unit where he and his girlfriend moved boxes and other items. David also rented a motel room where he took the family pets. When the fire began, Maddox was at work at Waffle House. After the fire, Maddox, her two sons, and her daughter moved into the motel room obtained by David.
Investigator J. B. Darst of the Gwinnett County Fire Department’s Arson Unit determined that the fire had been intentionally set using kerosene. Using sift screens, investigators shoveled debris through wire mesh strainers and sifted through the debris room by room, recording everything found in each room. Through this laborious process, investigators ascertained that many of the items reportedly lost in the fire and listed on the insurance claim were not in the debris and had not been on the premises at the time of the fire.
