Arsonist and Last Person Seen With Missing Woman Sentenced to 10 Years for Burning Down His Own House for Insurance Payout

By James King Tue., Oct. 20 2009 at 3:26 PM

Categories: News

Robert Reed

Last month, we told you about a 64-year-old Campe Verde woman who went missing in March. As far as police know, the last person to see her alive is the same man who was sentenced to more than a decade in prison after he was convicted of arson charges in Maricopa County Superior Court.

Robert Reed, 55, got 10 1/2 years today, to be precise, after he was found guilty of burning down his own townhouse to collect on an insurance payout.

In January, Reed was convicted of 14 felonies, one count of committing arson of an occupied structure, submitting a fraudulent insurance claim, and 12 counts of endangerment because there were 12 people sleeping in an adjoining townhouse as Reed chose to burn his to the
ground.

Reed opted to skip his court dates after he was released on bail and was tried in absentia.

After being convicted, Reed was arrested in Yavapai County in August, living under the name Charles Olson and driving around in the automobile of a missing woman.

Reed is the last known person to see 64-year-old Kristal Forest alive and was seen in possession of the truck she went missing in, months after she vanished.

Police say Reed's explanation as to how he came into possession of the truck contained "inconsistencies."

We're no detectives but when someone is found driving the same truck that someone disappeared in, it throws up a red flag.

Anyone with knowledge of the whereabouts of Kristal Forest or information on the relationship between her and Robert Reed are asked to call Detective Alex Jaramillo at (928) 771-3278 or Silent Witness at 1-800-932-3232.