NY Woman Charged with Arson for Burning Mustang in Wallington

Why Did a NY Woman Allegedly Torch a Mustang in Bergen County on Memorial Day?

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Wallington NJ, An ordinary Memorial Day evening in Bergen County turned into an active arson investigation after a classic sports car was intentionally set ablaze.

On Monday, May 25, 2026, at approximately 7:44 p.m., Wallington police and firefighters rushed to the vicinity of Lincoln Place following urgent reports of a vehicle fire. Upon arrival, first responders discovered a 2004 Ford Mustang completely engulfed in flames.

While fire crews successfully extinguished the inferno, the investigation into why and how the fire started was just beginning.

Joint Task Force Formed After Preliminary Arson Clues

Following an initial assessment by local Wallington officials, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Squad was immediately notified.

A joint investigation was quickly launched, pooling resources from:

• The Wallington Police Department

• The Wallington Fire Department

• The Bergen County Arson Task Force

According to Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella, detectives and arson investigators quickly uncovered evidence indicating that the blaze was no accident. The investigation revealed that 27-year-old Lilly J. Hammond, a resident of Rochester, New York, had intentionally set the Ford Mustang on fire.

Multiple Felony Charges and Jail Time

Hammond was tracking-apprehended the following day, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. Authorities have leveled serious charges against her, including:

• Third-degree Arson

• Third-degree Criminal Mischief

• Fourth-degree Failure to Control or Report a Dangerous Fire

• Contempt of Court (a disorderly persons offense)

Following her arrest, Hammond was transported to the Bergen County Jail, where she is currently being held pending her first official appearance in the Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack.

A History of Run-Ins with Law Enforcement

This is not Hammond’s first encounter with tri-state law enforcement. Documents reveal a history of criminal charges extending into Pennsylvania.

In August 2025, the Manheim Township Police Department arrested Hammond in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, on criminal trespass charges. In that incident, officers responded to complaints regarding vagrants occupying a vacant property. Upon searching the building, police discovered Hammond living in an upstairs bedroom that had been filled with personal belongings and women’s clothing. She was subsequently committed to Lancaster County Prison after failing to post a $15,000 bail.

Local authorities have not yet released a motive regarding why a Rochester resident was in Wallington or why the 2004 Mustang was targeted.

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• Tags: Bergen County News, Wallington NJ, Arson Investigation, True Crime NJ, Vehicle Fire, New Jersey Law Enforcement.