Man accused of burning Hotel of Terror charged with arson

Michael Howerton allegedly confessed to starting the fire with $2 of gasoline

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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A 55-year-old Springfield man named Michael Howerton has been charged with second-degree arson after allegedly attempting to burn down the Hotel of Terror, a local attraction, on February 7th. Surveillance footage shows Howerton trying to light the building on fire multiple times before returning with a gas can and successfully igniting a blaze, which caused minimal damage.

Why it matters

The Hotel of Terror has been at the center of a long-standing dispute between its owner, Sterling Mathis, and the city of Springfield over plans to replace an adjacent bridge. This alleged arson attack comes as the city has authorized the use of eminent domain to take control of the property, raising questions about the motivations behind the incident.

The details

According to the probable cause statement, video footage shows Howerton attempting to light the Hotel of Terror building three times after dousing it with a clear liquid from a bottle labeled Sea Ice Vodka. When those attempts failed, Howerton left the scene, returned with a gasoline container, and was able to successfully ignite a fire around the doorframe. Howerton later confessed to starting the fire with $2 of gasoline he purchased from a local gas station.

  • The incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 7, 2026.
  • In December 2025, the Springfield City Council authorized the use of eminent domain on the Hotel of Terror building to replace the adjacent Main Avenue bridge.

The players

Michael Howerton

A 55-year-old Springfield resident who has been charged with second-degree arson for allegedly attempting to burn down the Hotel of Terror.

Sterling Mathis

The owner of the Hotel of Terror, who has been in a long-standing disagreement with the city of Springfield over compensation terms related to the replacement of an adjacent bridge.

Springfield City Council

The local government body that authorized the use of eminent domain on the Hotel of Terror building in order to replace the adjacent Main Avenue bridge.

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What’s next

The judge will decide on Tuesday whether to allow Michael Howerton to be released on bail.

The takeaway

This alleged arson attack highlights the ongoing tensions between the Hotel of Terror's owner and the city of Springfield over the future of the property, raising concerns about the use of eminent domain and the potential for further escalation in the dispute.