Two women convicted of trying to set Schenectady home on fire

Two women are facing up to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of trying to set fire to a Schenectady home as part of an ongoing feud.

Jennifer Autar and Natasha Gregiore, who are both 33, were found guilty Thursday of attempted arson for the fire at a residence on Forest Road on Jan. 29, 2022.

Firefighters responded to a residence on Forest Road at around 6:20 a.m. for a report of a fire.

Autar and Gregiore poured gasoline on the natural gas meter and porch. Then, they lit the fire near the natural gas line while the resident was inside the house, according to the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office.

The fire burned in the driveway under the gas line and spread to a vehicle in the driveway. Firefighters put it out before it reached the house. No damage was done to the residence, and no one was injured.

Surveillance showed the mask-wearing women pouring gasoline on the gas meter and spray-painting a surveillance camera. A neighbor’s security camera captured the make of their vehicle and the homeowner had identified the women as possible suspects, prosecutors said,

A State Police trooper had seen Autar and Gregiore on the Thruway on the day of the fire, when he saw they had pulled over to the shoulder of the Thruway in a GMC Acadia. They were burning the gas can, masks and glasses they had used to disguise their identities, police said.

Their attorneys attempted to argue that it was a prank, rather than a crime, but the jury found them guilty after 40 minutes of deliberation.

The jury acquitted the woman of the attempted arson charge for the fire of the vehicle in the driveway.

They are scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 22.