Iowa Man Found Guilty of First-degree Arson

A Waterloo man was found guilty Wednesday, May 7th of first-degree arson in a fire that destroyed an apartment building and left two people with crippling burns.

Marcus Cosby, 36, will remain in custody until sentencing. He faces up to 25 years in prison.

Cosby had argued with two women who lived at the apartment over money to buy crack cocaine back on Nov. 8, prosecutors said. The women were sleeping in the living room at about 5:30 a.m. when Phyllis Todd was awoken by smoke and flames.

Todd dragged Zina Dufauchard to the back door before collapsing. They were both trapped inside.

Police and firefighters found Cosby outside the building after he helped another resident and her child escape the fire. He and officers then attempted to open the back door to retrieve Todd and Dufauchard.

Cosby said during the trial that he was in a bedroom smoking crack by himself when the fire broke out in another room, and that he didn’t know how the fire started.

Cosby originally told police he was passing by when he discovered the fire. But investigators found traces of flammable liquid on Cosby’s hands and clothing.