A popular content creator is facing multiple charges after allegedly setting her home on fire in an attempt to take her own life, officials said. Drew Mehalick-Headley, known online as “Drew Disaster” to hundreds of thousands of followers, reportedly started a fire in the bedroom of her Middletown home around 4:39 a.m. on August 27, according to law enforcement.
Court records show that Middletown Borough police responded after receiving several calls about a troubling message Mehalick-Headley posted to her Instagram and Facebook accounts.
The post drew hundreds of comments from concerned fans, many hoping the worst had not happened. On Facebook, Mehalick-Headley wrote that she was “incredibly grateful” to her fans but added she was not “deserving of love.”
Alongside the written note, she also shared emotional videos of herself petting her two cats. In one clip, she tearfully apologized to them and said, “Please cremate me or bury me in the shroud. I love you all, I truly do.”
Fire crews were able to rescue Mehalick-Headley from the blaze, but officials confirmed that one of her cats died in the fire. Authorities stated she admitted to starting the fire, leading to several serious charges:
Arson poses the threat of death or injury. Arson poses a danger to inhabited buildings. Risking catastrophe, Aggravated cruelty to animals. Despite the charges, many fans took to social media to share messages of support, reflecting on the influence she had on their lives over the years, according to the Local21 News.
“Drew, I really hope you’re okay. I watched your videos as a teenager, and you helped me grow so much confidence in being who I am.” “Hi Drew, you have been such a big part of my life in 2015, since I was in high school, and until now.”
“You were my favorite digital creator growing up. Your confidence to just be, your sense of fashion, and just the way you put yourself out there played a big part in the person I am today.”
Known best for her lifestyle content, Mehalick-Headley built an online community with over 300,000 YouTube subscribers and tens of thousands of followers across other platforms during the past decade. The extent of her injuries has not been disclosed. A preliminary hearing for the charges has not yet been scheduled.