Topline: One of her two cats died in the blaze that authorities say she intentionally set.
Published: September 5, 2025 9:00 am ET
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Background: Firefighters battle the blaze (Photo by Easton Watkins via WHP); Inset: Drew Mehalick-Headley (via Instagram/drewdisaster)
MIDDLETOWN, PA — Authorities have charged a well-known internet personality after a fire she allegedly started inside her mobile home in Pennsylvania last week.
According to Local 21 News WHP, 29-year-old Drew Mehalick-Headley, known to her sizable online following as “Drew Disaster,” is facing multiple charges including arson and aggravated cruelty to animals after what officials say was a suicide attempt that ended in a destructive early morning blaze.
The fire broke out around 4:30 a.m. on August 27 in the 100 block of Caravan Court at Harborton Estates. Investigators say the flames were mostly contained to a bedroom and the back of Mehalick-Headley’s vehicle. While the full extent of the damage was limited, police noted that two neighboring trailers—one just two feet away—were dangerously close to being affected.
According to an affidavit obtained by PennLive, Mehalick-Headley allegedly admitted to the fire marshal that she started the fire herself.
While officials found a grill inside the kitchen with wood and a burned piece of paper, they later ruled it was not the source. Nonetheless, police described the fire as “criminal in nature.”
Shortly before the fire, Mehalick-Headley posted a series of alarming messages across her social media platforms. On Instagram, she shared what appeared to be a suicide note: “I’m sorry. The pain has just become too heavy to bear. This is all I wanted. I’m glad that I got it. With love, Drew.”
drewdisaster’s Instagram post shared on August 27.
Videos uploaded around the same time show her tearfully petting her two cats and apologizing. “Please cremate me or bury me in the shroud. I love you all I truly do,” she said.
On Facebook, she echoed similar feelings of despair, writing that she was grateful to her fans but didn’t feel “deserving of love,” according to reporting from Local 21 News WHP.
Hundreds of followers responded in concern, many expressing their gratitude for the influence Mehalick-Headley had on their lives. “You helped me grow so much confidence in being who I am,” one fan wrote. Another said, “You were my favorite digital creator growing up. Your confidence to just be… played a big part in the person I am today.”
Mehalick-Headley, whose YouTube channel features a mix of fashion, lifestyle, and Halloween-themed content, has been creating online videos for over a decade. Her platform has drawn more than 300,000 subscribers and over 25 million views, along with a sizable following on Instagram.
She survived the fire and was rescued from the scene, but one of her cats died in the blaze. A second cat, a white feline, was saved by a property manager of Harborton Estates.
She now awaits a preliminary hearing, the date for which has not yet been scheduled. The charges filed against her include arson posing danger to life, arson endangering inhabited structures, risking catastrophe, and aggravated cruelty to animals.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, help is available. In the U.S., call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7, or use online chat services. If you are outside the U.S., local resources are available through international crisis hotlines.
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Influencer ‘Drew Disaster’ Charged With Arson for Setting Home on Fire During Suicide Attempt
One of her two cats died in the blaze that authorities say she intentionally set.
By Jacob Charles
Published: September 5, 2025 9:00 am ET
Background: Firefighters battle the blaze (Photo by Easton Watkins via WHP); Inset: Drew Mehalick-Headley (via Instagram/drewdisaster)
MIDDLETOWN, PA — Authorities have charged a well-known internet personality after a fire she allegedly started inside her mobile home in Pennsylvania last week.
According to Local 21 News WHP, 29-year-old Drew Mehalick-Headley, known to her sizable online following as “Drew Disaster,” is facing multiple charges including arson and aggravated cruelty to animals after what officials say was a suicide attempt that ended in a destructive early morning blaze.
The fire broke out around 4:30 a.m. on August 27 in the 100 block of Caravan Court at Harborton Estates. Investigators say the flames were mostly contained to a bedroom and the back of Mehalick-Headley’s vehicle. While the full extent of the damage was limited, police noted that two neighboring trailers—one just two feet away—were dangerously close to being affected.
According to an affidavit obtained by PennLive, Mehalick-Headley allegedly admitted to the fire marshal that she started the fire herself.
While officials found a grill inside the kitchen with wood and a burned piece of paper, they later ruled it was not the source. Nonetheless, police described the fire as “criminal in nature.”
Shortly before the fire, Mehalick-Headley posted a series of alarming messages across her social media platforms. On Instagram, she shared what appeared to be a suicide note: “I’m sorry. The pain has just become too heavy to bear. This is all I wanted. I’m glad that I got it. With love, Drew.”
drewdisaster’s Instagram post shared on August 27.
Videos uploaded around the same time show her tearfully petting her two cats and apologizing. “Please cremate me or bury me in the shroud. I love you all I truly do,” she said.
On Facebook, she echoed similar feelings of despair, writing that she was grateful to her fans but didn’t feel “deserving of love,” according to reporting from Local 21 News WHP.
Hundreds of followers responded in concern, many expressing their gratitude for the influence Mehalick-Headley had on their lives. “You helped me grow so much confidence in being who I am,” one fan wrote. Another said, “You were my favorite digital creator growing up. Your confidence to just be… played a big part in the person I am today.”
Mehalick-Headley, whose YouTube channel features a mix of fashion, lifestyle, and Halloween-themed content, has been creating online videos for over a decade. Her platform has drawn more than 300,000 subscribers and over 25 million views, along with a sizable following on Instagram.
She survived the fire and was rescued from the scene, but one of her cats died in the blaze. A second cat, a white feline, was saved by a property manager of Harborton Estates.
She now awaits a preliminary hearing, the date for which has not yet been scheduled. The charges filed against her include arson posing danger to life, arson endangering inhabited structures, risking catastrophe, and aggravated cruelty to animals.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Influencer ‘Drew Disaster’ Charged With Arson for Setting Home on Fire During Suicide Attempt
One of her two cats died in the blaze that authorities say she intentionally set.
By Jacob Charles
Published: September 5, 2025 9:00 am ET
Background: Firefighters battle the blaze (Photo by Easton Watkins via WHP); Inset: Drew Mehalick-Headley (via Instagram/drewdisaster)
MIDDLETOWN, PA — Authorities have charged a well-known internet personality after a fire she allegedly started inside her mobile home in Pennsylvania last week.
According to Local 21 News WHP, 29-year-old Drew Mehalick-Headley, known to her sizable online following as “Drew Disaster,” is facing multiple charges including arson and aggravated cruelty to animals after what officials say was a suicide attempt that ended in a destructive early morning blaze.
The fire broke out around 4:30 a.m. on August 27 in the 100 block of Caravan Court at Harborton Estates. Investigators say the flames were mostly contained to a bedroom and the back of Mehalick-Headley’s vehicle. While the full extent of the damage was limited, police noted that two neighboring trailers—one just two feet away—were dangerously close to being affected.
According to an affidavit obtained by PennLive, Mehalick-Headley allegedly admitted to the fire marshal that she started the fire herself.
While officials found a grill inside the kitchen with wood and a burned piece of paper, they later ruled it was not the source. Nonetheless, police described the fire as “criminal in nature.”
Shortly before the fire, Mehalick-Headley posted a series of alarming messages across her social media platforms. On Instagram, she shared what appeared to be a suicide note: “I’m sorry. The pain has just become too heavy to bear. This is all I wanted. I’m glad that I got it. With love, Drew.”
drewdisaster’s Instagram post shared on August 27.
Videos uploaded around the same time show her tearfully petting her two cats and apologizing. “Please cremate me or bury me in the shroud. I love you all I truly do,” she said.
On Facebook, she echoed similar feelings of despair, writing that she was grateful to her fans but didn’t feel “deserving of love,” according to reporting from Local 21 News WHP.
Hundreds of followers responded in concern, many expressing their gratitude for the influence Mehalick-Headley had on their lives. “You helped me grow so much confidence in being who I am,” one fan wrote. Another said, “You were my favorite digital creator growing up. Your confidence to just be… played a big part in the person I am today.”
Mehalick-Headley, whose YouTube channel features a mix of fashion, lifestyle, and Halloween-themed content, has been creating online videos for over a decade. Her platform has drawn more than 300,000 subscribers and over 25 million views, along with a sizable following on Instagram.
She survived the fire and was rescued from the scene, but one of her cats died in the blaze. A second cat, a white feline, was saved by a property manager of Harborton Estates.
She now awaits a preliminary hearing, the date for which has not yet been scheduled. The charges filed against her include arson posing danger to life, arson endangering inhabited structures, risking catastrophe, and aggravated cruelty to animals.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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