A Cerulean woman has been indicted on hate crimes, including attempted murder and arson, by a Christian County Grand Jury.
The indictment against 33-year old Karen Brafman of Cerulean was returned Friday, charging her with six counts of attempted murder, first-degree arson, second-degree arson and retaliating against a participant in the legal process. The arson and attempted murder charges are designated as a hate crime in the indictment.
According to the report from Kentucky State Police, the occupants of a trailer on Princeton Road woke to find the residence on fire. There were 6 people inside the home at the time of the fire, four of them children. There were four points of origin of the blaze and a strong smell of kerosene on the building. A kerosene heater and a fueling syphon allegedly belonging to Brafman was located and determined to be the igniting source. A wheelbarrow, mulch and a handsaw belonging to Brafman was also discovered.
She had allegedly attempted to stab one of the victims before and was on probation for that offense. The crimes against the victims are described as racially motivated, making it a hate crime according to KRS 532.031.
Brafman was originally charged with six counts of wanton endangerment, but it was amended to attempted murder.