Federal authorities are investigating a suspected arson attempt at the Madison, New Jersey, home of a U.S. executive from global pharmaceutical company Bayer, officials confirmed. Naturally, after the death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was fatally shot last December, officials are on high alert.
The fire was reported on the morning of March 4, at a residence in Madison. Firefighters responded swiftly, and the flames were extinguished without causing significant property damage or injuries. Due to the ongoing investigation, the prosecutor’s office has not disclosed the names of the home’s occupants.
Bayer spokesperson Nicole Hayes acknowledged the incident, stating it took place at “the private home of one of Bayer’s U.S. executives” and confirmed that “the family is safe and unharmed.” She emphasized, “The safety and security of our employees are a top priority for Bayer. We are fully cooperating with authorities and are grateful for the rapid response from local law enforcement.”
The investigation involves multiple agencies, including the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Arson/Environmental Crimes Unit, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office CSI Unit, the New Jersey State Fire Marshals Office K-9 Unit, New Jersey Transit Police, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department, and the New York City Police Department.
Additionally, the Federal Bureau of Investigation is assisting with the case, the prosecutor’s office confirmed to NBC News and CNN. The incident was first reported by Yahoo Finance last Friday.
This comes amid ongoing legal challenges for Bayer. According to Reuters, the company recently informed U.S. lawmakers that it may reconsider the sale of Roundup unless it receives stronger legal protection against product liability lawsuits.
Bayer has faced numerous claims linking Roundup’s former active ingredient, glyphosate, to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Although glyphosate was removed from Roundup products for home use in 2023, the company has already paid around $10 billion to settle various cases. An estimated 67,000 lawsuits are still pending, with Bayer allocating $5.9 billion in legal reserves.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.