Lesbian Arson Victims Plead With Insurance Company for Help

American National Property and Casualty (ANPAC) might want to consider a tagline for their business: "If we insure your home, and it gets burned down in a vicious, anti-gay hate crime, don't expect us to pay your claim."

That's because for more than seven months, a Tennessee couple -- Carol Ann and Laura Stutte -- have been waiting for ANPAC to process their claim for their destroyed house.

Back in September 2010, Carol Ann and Laura went away for the weekend to celebrate their anniversary. When they arrived back home, they found that their house had been torched to the ground and turned into ashes. Only a garage was left standing, and on the side of the garage was written the word "QUEERS" in big, black spray-painted letters.

No one has ever been held accountable for setting the fire that destroyed the Stutte's home. And ANPAC, the company that Carol Ann and Laura insured their home with, has gone AWOL, refusing to pay the claim on the property despite the fact that all that remains of the house is ashes.

Over 48,000 Change.org members have written ANPAC, urging the company to do the moral and right thing and pay the claim, yet the company remains silent. Now Carol Ann and Laura have released a heartfelt letter that they've written to ANPAC, pleading with the company for help.

"Our family has done every thing that you have asked of us. Proof of our whereabouts at the time of the fire: pictures, hotel, gas, food receipts and cell phone records. You have requested and we have provided all financial records: giving you full access to bank accounts and statements, Income tax returns dating back to 2006, credit cards, mortgage records, utility bills, home and cell phone records, loans, all medical records, employment history, previous home addresses and so much more. We ask again, have we not waited and suffered long enough?" Carol Ann and Laura write in their letter.

Carol Ann and Laura also write that despite having their house burned down, ANPAC is still requiring them to pay monthly insurance payments. That's on top of a mortgage payment they have to pay, too, as well as current living expenses -- which include having to find temporary housing, and buying new items that were destroyed in the fire. And the ultimate offense? Their policy with ANPAC should cover many of these things, but because ANPAC hasn't processed the claim, the Stuttes are receiving absolutely nothing.

How is it that ANPAC thinks it's just to continue sitting on this couple's claim? Unacceptable.

Carol Ann and Laura Stutte end their letter to ANPAC with a plea for the company to help make their lives easier after such a horrific hate crime.

"Our family has been threatened by our neighbor, we have lived in fear and now our home has been burnt down in hate. We are asking you American National Insurance to please honor our policy, pay our claim and additional living expenses so we as a family can concentrate on healing," Carol Ann and Laura conclude.

Please take a moment and sign this petition, calling on ANPAC to honor the Stuttes' insurance policy and pay this claim. Insurance companies are supposed to be there whenever customers experience tragedy. ANPAC has not been there, and continues to ignore this couple's claim. Is this their idea of customer service? Abandoning their customers at their most dire time of need?

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