Arson: Midlothian suspects arrested for 2025 home fire

Two men were arrested in November for an arson that occurred on August 12, 2025, in the 900 block of McAlpin Road in Midlothian, Texas. At the time of the incident, the Wilson family was asleep inside their two-story home when the fire started around 1:05 a.m. The arrest comes more than a year after the event, bringing a formal end to the investigation into the property damage.

Midlothian police identified Bennie Leon McGriff Jr., 55, and Rashad Gilbert Harrington, 27, as the suspects. Surveillance footage from neighborhood cameras and Flock devices captured the two men lighting the house on fire. Investigators used vehicle telematics and cell phone records to trace a white Ford F-450 to McGriff. Officials stated that McGriff drove Harrington to the residence to commit the act, while DNA evidence linked Harrington to the crime scene.

Malia Wilson, Darryl Wilson’s 21-year-old daughter, was staying at the home for summer break. Her bedroom is located directly above the garage, so she noticed the motion-activated security lights turn on before the fire spread. She went downstairs to investigate and saw flames through the living room window. She called 911 and woke her father, allowing the family to use pots of water to control the blaze until firefighters arrived. No one was injured, and the damage to the structure was kept to a minimum.

Both men now face a first-degree felony charge for arson of a habitation. Police have not released information regarding a motive for the fire. Officials also have not stated whether the suspects had a prior relationship with the Wilson family or knew they were inside the home at the time of the attack.