Man charged with burning home where he lived is no-show in court

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Photo: Christian Gabriel Bolding

A man who burned the house he lived in to allegedly chase imaginary people out of it was due to appear in Baxter County Circuit Court Thursday but was a no-show.

A failure-to-appear warrant was issued for 41-year-old Christian Gabriel Bolding. He is charged with arson in the fire that destroyed the residence located along County Road 645.

Family members say Bolding has mental issues that seem to have rapidly become more severe recently.

Authorities were alerted to the fire on Dec. 2, 2021 when Bolding’s sister called 911 and said her brother had come to her residence on an all terrain vehicle and reported his house was burning. She said her relative claimed “he could not take it anymore,” so he set fire to the house.

Relatives report Bolding has a history of believing imaginary people were after him. He has been seen stabbing the air with a knife and shooting a rifle into the woods with no observable target.

He is alleged to have claimed the people use drones and other devices to keep up with his activities, and that they control his vehicles and steal items from his pockets.

There have been six petitions recently filed seeking orders of protection against Bolding.

The affidavits contain information as to Bolding’s observed behaviors, including sometimes yelling at unseen people for hours, shooting holes in the floor of his residence and burning a newly purchased Jeep, because he was convinced his ex-wife was in the vehicle, and he wanted to get her out.

On the day of the fire, Bolding told investigators the blaze was accidental. He said had been working on the floor of the residence, had gone outside, found some fireworks and discharged them.

He said a fuse went into a trash can and spread quickly to the residence.

Bolding is reported to have made threats to neighbors and family, including intentions to burn their houses. One relative said Bolding often accuses him of doing things he has not done.

Bolding told investigators he did not intend to carry out the threats. He is alleged to have admitted to investigators that he “sees people.”

The home he is accused of burning is part of an unsettled estate and, therefore, was not legally Bolding’s property at the time of the fire, according to the probable cause affidavit.

At the time of his non-appearance, Bolding was free on $50,000 bond.

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