The Washington DC home of two active-duty United States Space Force officers was deliberately set on fire and vandalised in what authorities are investigating as a targeted attack, with the family losing nearly all their possessions and their pet cat.
A Devastating Discovery While Away for Christmas
Major Jason Mills, 37, and his wife, Major Kaylee Taylor, 34, were in Florida with their ten-month-old daughter over the Christmas period when they received a devastating early morning call. At around 5am on December 28, police informed Major Mills that their family home in the nation's capital had been burgled and set ablaze.
Fire officials later determined that two separate fires were intentionally ignited from inside the property—one in the kitchen and another in the basement—leading them to classify the incident as incendiary and not an accident.
Vandalism Points to Potential Political Motivation
Alongside the arson, the family's car was ransacked and defaced with profanity-laden graffiti. Messages including 'F*** Trump' and 'F*** you space man' were scrawled across the vehicle, escalating concerns that the attack was an act of politically-motivated violence against military personnel.
Major Mills, who uses the call sign 'Red,' described finding the car's mirrors torn off, papers scattered inside, and black ink smeared across the dashboard. A sticker for the Air Force Research Laboratory was also defaced with a large 'X.'
'I would say there is a general anti-military sentiment in certain parts of D.C. nowadays,' Mills told the Daily Caller, speaking in a personal capacity and not on behalf of the Space Force or Department of Defense.
Sifting Through the Ashes and an Outpouring of Support
By the time the family rushed back to Washington, the investigation was underway. Donning hazmat suits, they sifted through the soot and debris of their gutted home. Clothing, furniture, baby supplies, and keepsakes were destroyed by the flames, smoke, or water used to fight the fire. Tragically, the family cat, Marlee, perished after becoming trapped inside.
Amid the loss, a few precious items were recovered, including their daughter's hospital bracelet from her birth day and some framed baby photos.
In the aftermath, a GoFundMe was set up by family members to help the couple rebuild. Describing an 'unimaginable tragedy,' the fundraiser noted they 'lost pretty much everything they owned.' The response was overwhelming, with donations pouring in and the total exceeding $110,000 by the following Saturday.
'Me and the family are super, super thankful and grateful for all the support we've been shown so far,' Mills said. 'It's way above and beyond anything we expected.'
A police report confirms a man was taken into custody after being found with items from the home, and authorities say the investigation remains ongoing.
