October 8, 2003
Continued investigation of what initially appeared to be a hate crime in Boundary County has turned out to be an alleged attempt at insurance fraud in which the supposed victims have turned out to be the prime suspects.
Deputies responded Sunday to the County Road 8 home near Naples after Scott and Barbara Zamitalo returned from a three-day stay in Coeur d’Alene and found a cross with a nightgown draped across it in their front yard and racial epithets scrawled on a barn. When deputies entered the home, they found diesel had been poured throughout the house and a small fire had been set in the living room of the home.
On Tuesday, detective Mike Naumann developed information that revealed the entire incident had been staged with assistance from an unnamed accomplice. Charges are pending.