Columbia businesswoman charged with arson in southeast Missouri’s Bootheel

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of the co-owner of Columbia’s popular Casa Maria’s Mexican cantina on Grindstone Parkway, for a second degree arson charge in southeast Missouri’s Kennett.

43-year-old Crystal Umfress is charged with the class D felony for her alleged role in starting a fire this summer in Kennett, which is about five hours from Columbia.

Our news partner KMIZ reports the fire happened in July at Lupita’s Mexican restaurant. Court documents obtained by ABC-17’s Marina Diaz quote a witness as telling Kennett Police that Umfress was upset at the owner of the business because the person “ran off with her husband.”

Casa Maria’s Mexican cantina’s website describes itself as one of the top Mexican restaurants in Columbia.