A Detroit man who made headlines for his Liberace-inspired home years ago is now accused of setting fire to the ornate residence.
Ronald Nassar was charged with second-degree arson and has been in custody for weeks, according to court records. The Detroit Fire Department said it responded to a 911 call to a different home in the area on the afternoon of June 16, only to learn that the residence on fire was Nassar’s home on 450 W. Grixdale.
Firefighters put out the fire, and there were no injuries, according to Corey McIsaac, a department spokesperson. Nassar was outside the residence when the department arrived.
“The resident, Ronald Nassar, was arrested on the scene of the fire that same day and has been charged with second-degree arson relative to the fire at his home,” McIsaac said.
Court records show Nassar entered a plea of not guilty on June 18, and a $30,000 bond was issued. A judge continued his bond on Monday, and Nassar remains in custody at the Wayne County Jail.
An attorney listed for Nassar did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.
Nassar’s 3,200-square-foot home was listed for sale in 2018, drawing attention to his eye-catching interior design. NBC’s “TODAY” wrote about the house, known as “Lion Gate Estate,” at the time.
According to Today.com, the home had been in Nassar’s family since the 1950s, and he inherited it after his father’s death. He said at the time that he chose to decorate following his own style, which leaned toward Art Deco design and cabaret influences.
“I find it an entertaining place to live,” Nassar said. “You know, you walk by something, and after a while, you don’t pay attention. This house, you pay attention!”
Nassar said he chose to list his beloved home because he was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
“It’s been such a happy house — always filled with good times,” said Nassar. “I would hope that others would find the happiness and joy I’ve found through the years with my family.”
Although the home drew attention, it appeared that Nassar was unable to sell it, and the listing was removed in 2019. Zillow records show it was re-listed in 2021 but did not sell until last year.
Nassar took out a nearly $300,000 reverse mortgage loan in 2015, according to the Detroit Free Press. Court records show a complaint was filed against Nassar in June this year by Mortgage Assets Management, a financial services company.
He had a court date in the case on June 16, the day the home was on fire, and he failed to appear. Nassar also failed to appear on June 30, presumably because he was in jail.
A default judgment was entered on that day, and the case was closed, according to the case docket.
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