Cozzens pleads not guilty in arson, attempted murder case

Heather Cozzens, 38, of Lovell pleaded not guilty by reason of mental illness on felony counts of first-degree attempted murder, first-degree arson, two counts of felony property destruction and a misdemeanor criminal trespass charge at her arraignment in Big Horn County District Court on Tuesday, May 12. Cozzens has been held in Big Horn County Detention Center with bail set at $100,000 since her arrest on August 11, 2025, after she allegedly set fire to the vehicle of her ex-partner Michael Martinelli on Carmon Avenue in Lovell.

The fire was reported at 1:10 a.m. August 11, 2025, by a neighbor, Bruce Wacker, after his dog began barking and alerted him to the emergency. The Lovell Volunteer Fire Department extinguished Martinelli’s 2003 Honda Accord, not more than two feet from his garage, which was also damaged by the flames and is attached to the family home. Fire marshals brought in a trained dog, which alerted that an accelerant had been used in the fire. 

An affidavit of probable cause prepared by Lovell police officer Shantel Coleman details that video footage from Wacker’s surveillance camera was used to identify Cozzens’s vehicle driving westbound down the neighbors’ shared alley at 1:04 a.m. Coleman and Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office deputies contacted Cozzens at her home on Idaho Avenue in Lovell.

Cozzens stated that she had not been at the Martinelli house and had spent the last two nights in the hospital trying to detox so she could see her children, all three of which were residing at the Martinelli house at the time of the fire. Officers observed that her car engine was still warm, and she was unable to adequately explain why. Coleman observed an ashy white burn on Cozzens’s right hand, which she said was from a cigarette. 

Cozzens was placed under arrest and reportedly cursed Martinelli, stating he did not deserve her kids and had brought a new woman into the home, trying to control their lives. Cozzens was taken to the emergency room to be evaluated before being cleared for jail, and on the way to the detention center, Coleman reported overhearing her talking about Molotov cocktail bombs, how she had never made one but had seen them in video games. 

The state fire investigator reported that flames came within inches of open insulation, which could have been catastrophic. A glass jar, which Coleman noted at the scene, had been placed or thrown in between the front of the car and the garage door, and an accelerant pour pattern was determined to have started on the car’s roof and traveled over its hood. A bedroom wall, belonging to Martinelli and his partner Yvette DeLaCruz, abutting the garage wall reportedly had a highly flammable covering. At the time of the fire, Martinelli, DeLaCruz and Cozzens’ and Martinelli’s three children were asleep inside the building. No injuries were reported. DeLaCruz informed Coleman that they had been involved in a custody dispute with Cozzens. 

Last Tuesday, Judge Bobbi Overfield informed Cozzens that, even if she was not sentenced to attempted murder in the first degree, which is punishable by life in prison without parole, the remaining charges would still amount to up to 40 years imprisonment and/or $40,000 in fines. Cozzens, through her attorney Sam Krone, asked that she be allowed to write a letter to her children, which was denied, with prosecuting Big Horn County Attorney Marcia Bean noting that the children were potential victims of Cozzens’ alleged crime.

Cozzens acknowledged that, due to her not guilty mental illness plea, it may take more than the standard 180 days to procure a jury trial due to the need for expert opinion. A trial is expected to last 8-10 days. Cozzens remains in custody.