TERRANCE FREDERICK BANKS arrested for setting house on fire with dogs inside
- Florida, USA -
~ Update: September 29, 2026
A spokesperson for the Seminole County Government told me that eight dogs have passed away, “including two that passed in our custody yesterday evening.” I was also told: “One dog is still on the loose in the neighborhood– he has been spotted, but this is a rural neighborhood and he continues to run when we try and capture for care. Our animal control team continues to patrol the area. Two dogs remain in our custody. They are being treated by our veterinary care team. One male, one female, both evaluated to be between 1-3 years of age. Both are pitbull mixes.”
~ Original story:
The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office arrested 40-year-old TERRANCE FREDERICK BANKS (pictured).
According to the arrest report provided to Voice For Us by the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, on the morning of Monday, September 28, 2026, BANKS poured gasoline inside his home on Snow Hill Road in Geneva and set it on fire while several dogs were trapped inside. The arrest report stated that some of the dogs “were located in crates and were not able to escape the fire.”
Deputies, as well as the Seminole County Fire Department, investigators with the State Fire Marshal’s Office, and Seminole County Animal Services, responded to the scene.
The arrest report identified a total of six deceased dogs. Five deceased dogs were found in the front area of the home, while another made it outside but later died on the front lawn by the street.
According to the arrest report, five dogs survived the fire. One of the five dogs was located and picked up by a neighbor, while the other four were located and recovered by Animal Services. The four dogs recovered by Animal Services “had serious burns and other injuries consistent with the fire and smoke inhalation,” the report stated.
Investigators said the home was destroyed and left uninhabitable.
While BANKS was being detained, he made spontaneous comments about setting the fire and asked deputies to take him to jail.
BANKS claimed he had nineteen dogs in the house; however, investigators could account for only eleven at the time of their initial investigation.
BANKS was arrested and transported to the Seminole County Jail. He was charged with eleven counts of aggravated animal cruelty and one count of second-degree arson.
Bond was set at $27,500 for the animal cruelty charges, calculated at $2,500 for each of the eleven counts. He was ordered held without bond on the arson charge pending his court appearance on September 29, 2026.
The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office requested GPS monitoring if BANKS is released from jail.
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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is based on the arrest report provided to Voice For Us by the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.
In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.
Mugshot shared from the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.
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