Doctor, 35, Jealous of ex's New Girlfriend Ruins Her Life and Career

Amy Cohen is escorted out of a courtroom in the Montgomery County Courthouse after being sentenced Wednesday to 11 1/2 to 23 months in county jail.

A promising young doctor has been sentenced to jail after orchestrating a campaign of harassment and committing arson against her ex-boyfriend’s new partner. Amy Cohen, 36, of Philadelphia, received a sentence of 11 to 23 months in jail following an attempt to burn down the home of her rival’s 99-year-old grandmother.

Cohen suffered a mental breakdown after her ex-boyfriend entered a new relationship, leading her to stalk his new partner’s family. She distributed disturbing fliers featuring images of her rival with crosses over her eyes and issued threats against the family, demanding they leave the state. The fliers also contained accusations that the woman was ‘promoting Islamophobia.’

Doctor Amy Cohen, 36, was sentenced to jail after launching a campaign of terror against her ex-boyfriend's new partner

The situation escalated on November 30, 2023, when Cohen set fire to the home of her rival’s elderly grandmother. Fortunately, the homeowner managed to escape unharmed, as the fire was detected before it could fully engulf the house.

Cohen was identified as the perpetrator after her ex-boyfriend recognized her in surveillance footage capturing the arson. He informed law enforcement that she had not taken their breakup well and had been obsessively tracking him and his new partner online. Investigators later discovered lighter fluid and copies of the threatening letters in Cohen’s vehicle.

A woman believed to be Cohen's love rival is pictured in these abusive fliers distributed to try and sabotage the relationship

Cohen, an infectious-disease physician at Medical Specialist Association, had her medical license suspended following her arrest. She pleaded guilty to charges of arson, reckless endangerment, terroristic threats, and related crimes. More severe charges, including attempted murder and assault, were dropped after she completed six months of inpatient treatment at a mental health facility in Mississippi.

A psychologist who evaluated Cohen revealed that she had suffered from ADHD, borderline personality disorder, and anxiety since childhood and had been abusing Adderall. He stated that her mental health had deteriorated in 2023 due to the pressures of working through the COVID-19 pandemic, culminating in an amphetamine-induced psychosis.

The fliers, seen above, also accused the victim of 'Islamophobia'

During sentencing, Cohen’s legal team argued for a sentence centered on rehabilitation rather than incarceration. However, Montgomery County Court Judge Wendy Rothstein emphasized the necessity of consequences for her actions, stating, ‘The next step in your rehabilitation process is understanding there are consequences for your actions and accepting them.’

The home that Cohen tried to burn is pictured. The flames were subdued before the structure was fully engulfed in November, 2023

The victim’s family addressed the court, with the rival’s grandmother—now 101 years old—still inquiring about ‘the girl who tried to burn [her] house down.’ The victim condemned Cohen’s actions, stating, ‘Amy demonstrated a total disregard for human life, which is disgusting, knowing that she is a doctor.’

Cohen expressed remorse in court, offering an apology to the victim and her family. ‘I know me saying I’m deeply sorry doesn’t compensate for my actions, but I hope you are able to begin to heal,’ she said.

Cohen's lawyer said she was in an 'amphetamine-induced psychosis'