Tina Diakos, 48, is facing a charge of second-degree witness tampering.
VERNON -- The co-owner of Jerzeez Diner who's facing a charge of witness tampering allegedly told an acquaintance "she wasn't going to lose all her money again" and that she "will burn it down before she closes it down," according to an affidavit reviewed by New Jersey Herald.
The blaze that destroyed the Route 94 restaurant on March 8 was deemed suspicious the next day, and, a week later, 48-year-old Tina Diakos was charged with second-degree witness tampering in connection with the fire investigation, the newspaper reported.
According to the affidavit obtained by the newspaper, an individual told Vernon police Diakos asked to use the individual's phone to search combustibles and the same individual cooperated with police to record telephone conversations with the co-owner.
Diakos, whose case is expected to receive grand jury review, allegedly offered to pay the individual $480 not to say anything to authorities and another $5,000 after she collected the insurance.
Authorities responded to the fire shortly after 4 a.m. on March 8 when they received a call reporting flames coming out of the roof, Vernon police said.
The blaze was deemed under control at 7:35 a.m. following firefighting efforts by the Mcafee, Pochuck Valley, Highland Lakes, Vernon, Sussex and Warwick, N.Y. fire departments, Kimkowski said. No one was injured in the blaze.
Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.