Primghar, Iowa — Employees of Buddz’s and the Rec Bowl in Sheldon took the stand in Primghar Friday afternoon to testify in the arson and insurance fraud trial of the former owner of that business, Kristina Manasil of Sheldon.
One of the employees, Thomas Hansen, testified that he had noticed a burning rubber smell in the building earlier in the day, but upon investigation, discovered that it was caused by a slipping belt on one of the bowling alley’s pin setters. Hansen told jurors that later that afternoon, Manasil called him, another employee, and Manasil’s boyfriend, Adam Sickles, into the storage room. He said that there had been a fire in that room, and that Manasil called them in to start the fire back up. Hansen testified that before he turned to leave the room he saw Manasil hand Sickles a lighter, but didn’t know what he did with it.
Hansen told jurors that the building’s air conditioning was turned on before the group left the building. He said Manasil told them that recent problems with the air conditioning units would be blamed for starting the fire. Hansen told jurors that Manasil had said the building was insured for a large amount of money, and that she’d see to it that the people who helped her got some of it.
Hansen also talked about the meeting in Manasil’s garage later that night to make sure the employees got their stories straight. Hansen testified that Manasil had told him what to say to investigators who would be looking into the blaze.
A video was shown of Hansen’s initial interview with Fire Marshall Terry Johnson, in which Hansen denied any knowledge of how the fire started, or any possible criminal activity. During that interview, Johnson had told Hansen that it would be better for him to be a witness than a defendant. Some time later, Hansen said he came forward and came clean with investigators. Hansen told jurors that his biggest regret is that he “didn’t try to stop it”.
Buddz’s employee Aaron Stettnicks told jurors that he had noticed a haze in the air inside the business, and that he repoted it to Manasil. Stettnicks testified that he had seen Sickles with paper towels, and Manasil with her cigarettes and lighter, but thought nothing of it. He said that he had no knowledge of any criminal activity.
The prosecution also called an employee of a Spirit Lake vending machine company that had machines inside the business. He testified that he had arrived at 3:31 pm that afternoon to remove the money from the machines, and that he had given Manasil $826 from the machines. He told jurors that everything appeared normal at the business when he left at 4:32 pm.
Manasil’s trial has adjourned for the weekend, and will resume Monday morning at 9:30 at the O’Brien County Courthouse in Primghar.
Manasil is charged with 1st Degree Arson and Insurance Fraud in the case.
To find out what happened in previous sessions of this trial, click here.
