Interrogation of Sandpoint Arsonist Jennifer Meyer

Is there more backstory behind the intentional fire started at Army Surplus 1?

Jul 18, 2025

The devastating fire started at Army Surplus 1 in Sandpoint, Idaho, on July 4, 2024, has many locals in the region asking many questions about WHY Jennifer Suzanne Meyer, a sign maker at Bonner Media in Ponderay (now rebranded as Tamarack Media), would do this to its owner, Idaho Representative Cornel Rasor, his family, and their livlihood.

Since the initial incident occurred, Meyer spent months under mental evaluation, temporarily evading any accountability. That changed earlier this year when the state determined Meyer was mentally fit to stand trial.

Now that Meyer has been sentenced, access to public records is more available. Below are parts one and two of the interview by Sandpoint Police, questioning Meyer about her whereabouts on the evening of July 4, 2024. This is the most testimony from Meyer that has become public. Investigators mentioned the possibility of political motives and asked if Meyer was paid to set the blaze, replying, “I’m unable to answer that.”

After researching the Bonner Media website, I noticed some of the signage for jobs done for the Pend Oreille School District, which can be publicly requested. After a quick request, I found an email from Ms. Meyer on July 10, 2024, six days after she started the fire, asking about a job, and she seemed to be of sound mind.

After initially pleading not guilty with a jury trial scheduled, Meyer shortly thereafter took a plea deal for second-degree arson. During the sentencing, Judge Jensen ruled that Meyer be sentenced to 8 years determinate and 7 years indeterminate with no possibility of parole at this time. Here is the full sentencing hearing for Meyer, which I recently filmed.

My interview in August 2024, with Cornel Rasor outside his former store, after the fire.