The Teller County woman accused of sparking the Highland Lakes fire in October 2024 was found to be incompetent to stand trial for the second time since her case began, court records reveal.

Lowa Tillitt, 78, also referred to as Lacey Tillitt in public records, was arrested Jan. 16 for allegedly starting the fire on Oct. 28, 2024. Tillitt faces one charge of felony arson endangering more than $1 million in property after the fire burned 166 acres northwest of Divide and caused more than 700 households to be evacuated.

Tillitt’s legal proceedings have primarily focused on her competency to proceed to trial. In March, Tillitt was placed on a mental health stay. However, Tillitt was deemed competent in August after Judge William Moller heard testimony from two competency evaluators and a former cellmate of Tillitt’s.

Tillitt was being placed on a second mental health hold in November after her defense counsel re-raised the issue of competency. Court records stated that the evaluation found Tillitt incompetent again.

Tillitt is set to undergo treatment to determine if she can be restored to competency and be fit to stand trial at a later date.

According to an arrest affidavit previously obtained by The Courier, Tillitt allegedly told investigators she had been burning cardboard boxes inside her house in her wood-burning stove at 13 Beaver Lake Circle. When she opened the oven to add more materials, a couch allegedly ignited, prompting the fast-moving wildfire.

During law enforcement’s investigation, they discovered the “estranged” relationship Tillitt had with her insurance company and that the residence was set to foreclose just days after the fire broke out, according to the arrest affidavit.

Tillitt had previously claimed her house had water damage, among other things, according to insurance records. She had several recorded conversations between December 2022 and May 2023 with her insurance provider that were “cordial” and mainly focused on seeking help with her claims.

After the cancellation of her plan, law enforcement says Tillitt started to become more “irate” during conversations with the insurance company. In recorded phone calls, court documents allege Tillitt threatened suicide if the issues with her house were not resolved.

During several other recorded conversations between Tillitt and American National on Feb. 12, 2024, police allege she made “approximately seven statements of setting her residence on fire.”

In the days leading up to Oct. 28, the day the fire broke out, Tillitt allegedly called several times “claiming she was going to die.” Tillitt is described as being hysterical, yelling and screaming in these calls according to the arrest affidavit.

Tillitt also has two open assault cases, court records show. In the May and August 2024 cases, she faces felony assault charges against a peace officer.

Tillitt will appear next in a Teller County courtroom on Feb. 2 for a review hearing.