Mother and son charged in arson that destroyed Walker County Public Defender’s Office

Jasper Police have charged two individuals in connection with an arson fire that destroyed the Walker County Public Defender’s Office.

Police say 19-year-old Joseph Cole Whitten and his mother, 42-year-old Amanda Jo Kolarchick, face charges of second-degree theft of property, third-degree burglary, and third-degree arson.

Court documents reveal that Whitten was arrested shortly after 7 p.m. on July 8, 2025. Jasper Fire Chief Chris Upton detailed the incident, stating that on Saturday, July 5, at approximately 4:28 a.m., the Jasper Fire Department was dispatched to the corner of 19th Street West and 4th Avenue following reports of a structure fire.

When officers arrived, they discovered a fire at the Walker County Public Defender’s Office, said Upton. Fire crews worked from outside the building for safety, deploying several fire devices to protect adjacent structures. The scene was cleared at 5:07 p.m. after more than 12 hours of firefighting efforts.

Read more: WBMA (Birmingham, AL)