Washington County man charged with attempted murder, arson

Dustin Machen accused of dousing his mother and her home with gasoline, leading to a destructive fire

Apr. 9, 2026 at 8:23pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extreme close-up of a charred, melted plastic object against a pitch-black background, conceptually illustrating the aftermath of a destructive fire caused by a domestic violence incident.A grim reminder of the devastation wrought by a domestic violence incident involving arson and attempted murder.Johnson City Today

A 32-year-old Johnson City man has been arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated arson, burglary, and especially aggravated kidnapping after allegedly dousing his mother and her home with gasoline, leading to a fire that destroyed the structure. The victim managed to escape with burns on her arms and call the police from a neighbor's home.

Why it matters

Domestic violence incidents involving arson and attempted murder are extremely serious crimes that put innocent lives at risk. This case highlights the need for continued vigilance and intervention to prevent such tragedies within families.

The details

According to the county Sheriff's Office report, Dustin Machen is accused of breaking into his mother's home, dousing her and the property with gasoline, and then starting a fire that destroyed the structure. The victim was able to escape the blaze and run to a neighbor's home to call the police. Machen was found close to the fire site and arrested by officers, who also discovered he had destroyed the victim's cell phone before fleeing.

  • The incident occurred on Thursday night.

The players

Dustin Machen

A 32-year-old Johnson City resident who has been charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated arson, burglary, and especially aggravated kidnapping.

Keith Sexton

The Sheriff of Washington County, Tennessee, who stated there had been prior domestic issues at the home.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

Machen is being held in custody, and the case will proceed through the criminal justice system.

The takeaway

This tragic incident underscores the need for continued vigilance and intervention to prevent domestic violence situations from escalating to the point of attempted murder and arson, which put innocent lives at grave risk.