Victim’s 911 call played during deadly Loudoun County arson trial
Victim’s 911 call played in deadly arson trial
A victim’s 911 call was played during the trial related to a deadly Loudoun County arson case.
LEESBURG, Va. - Opening statements got underway on Wednesday in the trial for a Sterling, Virginia, man accused of intentionally setting his home on fire in a blaze that killed one person.
What we know:
Jacob Bogatin, 78, is facing first-degree murder and multiple felony charges in connection with the Oct. 24, 2025, fire that killed his neighbor, 36-year-old Madelaine Samantha Akers.
Bogatin, who has pleaded not guilty, wore a suit jacket and listened to the proceedings through Russian translation headphones. His defense team appeared to question the validity of the investigation.
The Commonwealth’s Attorney told jurors that while prosecutors will not claim Bogatin intended to kill Akers, they will prove he intentionally set the fire.
On the first day of the trial, prosecutors shared that they plan to use surveillance and digital evidence to prove that a figure in dark clothing seen moving around the scene before and after the fire was Bogatin.
Jurors were played a frantic 911 call Akers made while trapped in her third-floor bedroom, in which she was heard screaming and pleading for help before going silent.
RELATED: Sterling fire suspect filed insurance claim day after fatal blaze, court documents say
Sheriff’s deputies say they and firefighters responded to a townhome on Riptide Square to find two homes on fire and possible entrapment. The blaze spread from home to home, killing Akers, destroying two townhomes, damaging a third and displacing eight people.
Court documents later showed an insurance claim was filed the day after the fire for more than double the amount owed on Bogatin’s unit, which was in foreclosure. Investigators also say the fire was set behind the townhomes, with Bogatin captured on surveillance video in the rear area.
Neighbors described the site afterward as a disturbing reminder of what happened. Last month, county officials confirmed plans to tear down what remains of the property.
A not‑guilty plea appears in court records, and the judge has set the trial schedule from August 24 through September 9.
The Source: Information in this article comes from the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Loudoun County.