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AHOSKIE – The Hertford County Sheriff’s Office remains actively engaged in investigating the cause of a fire that destroyed an unoccupied home on Feb. 21.

In the meantime, Jennifer Taylor, one of the co-owners of the property, is offering a $500 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction of those responsible for the fire.

A copy of the incident report obtained by the News-Herald shows that the fire was reported shortly after 10 p.m. on Feb. 21. The home is located a distance off NC 561 near the St. John community.

The report notes that Tiffany Wood, who is related to Taylor, is also listed as a co-owner of the property. Wood told investigators that she and Juan Stevenson had been remodeling the home over the past two years.

Due to the fact that is no electrical power at the residence and due to no one residing there at the present time, the investigation into the cause of the fire is that is “not accidental.”

Taylor said the home was built by her great grandparents.

“There wasn’t furniture in the room that the fire started in or curtains or in most of the house,” Taylor told the R-C News-Herald.

“We are asking that any information known about the fire be reported to the sheriff’s office at 252-358-7800,” Taylor added. “The family would like to thank all fire department men and women and the sheriff ‘s office for putting out the fire.”

The North Carolina SBI has assisted the Hertford County Sheriff’s Office with the fire investigation, which remains an open case.