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Woman to change plea in attempted murder case

| March 13, 2021 1:00 AM

COEUR d’ALENE — A woman accused of attempting to kill her former girlfriend will change her plea.

Jamie L. Morley, 43, of Coeur d’Alene is charged with first-degree attempted murder and first-degree arson. She is also charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a prescription drug, a misdemeanor.

Morley previously pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Police responded Sept. 29, 2020, to a Coeur d’Alene home where a resident said she woke around 5 a.m. to a fire in her kitchen sink.

The resident told police she believed Morley, her ex-girlfriend, had set the fire. She said the couple was breaking up and had argued the night before.

Both she and Morley were at the scene when police arrived.

Police reportedly found two burned wire storage baskets in the kitchen. The blinds above the sink were also damaged.

Fire investigators determined there was no evidence the fire started on its own, according to court documents. The gas stove was reportedly turned on and letting out gas.

Coeur d’Alene Fire Inspector Bobby Gonder said in court that, in an enclosed space where a fire was burning, the gas would eventually fill the space, ignite and cause an “extreme” explosion.

Morley allegedly told police that she “must have” started the fire, but she said she didn’t remember doing so.

Police arrested Morley at the scene. A search of her person reportedly yielded loose prescription pills which Morley said were not prescribed to her.

A five-day jury trial scheduled for this month has been vacated. Morley will change her plea on March 18.

Morley is being held on $100,000 bail.