Accomack Co. residents unsatisfied with Bundick’s prison time

To most of the Eastern Shore, Tonya Bundick is known as the arsonist behind more than sixty fires in Accomack County.

But for county residents who owned those unoccupied structures, she is more than just a criminal.

“She took my past, history, my mother my father and I built that house there,” says Cleo Kelley Junior, owner of a Melfa home that was burnt to the ground. “Really, we don’t have anything good to say about Ms. Tonya Bundick.”

That’s why residents like Kelley were appalled at the news that she will only serve 17.5 years in prison for 64 counts related to the arson fires.

“I feel real bad, really bad, I’m disgusted,” says Kelley.

“It was awful and we knew something would eventually happen,” says Thomas Molter, a Parksley, VA resident. “I did not expect it that low.”

While the plea agreement will prevent future trials at taxpayers’ expense, the aftermath of the five-month arson spree across the county is their responsibility.

“It’s very visible to see, it’s a constant reminder,” says Ron Wolff, vice chair for the Accomack County Board of Supervisors. “It looks bad on the county.”

Wolff says it is up to the land owner’s insurance to take care of the eyesores, but since the structures were all un-occupied, many did not have insurance. When that is the case, he says it falls on the land owner, but it has put them in a difficult position because the fires were a crime, not the owners’ fault.

“A lot of land owners may not feel that’s part of their obligation.”

For residents like Kelley, it’s a waiting game just to pay more at Bundick’s expense.

“With the young youth running around, when the chimney falls down and hits one of those kids, they’re going to charge the bill to us,” he says. “It’s a loss all the way around.”

A large part of the impact that the arsons had in Accomack County fell upon the first responders battling those fires. 47 ABC reached out to the former Onley Fire and Rescue chief, who was unable to do an interview.

In a short statement, he says, “I’m just glad it’s all over.”