Defendant Pleads Not Guilty in Mass. Arson Case
A 25-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to setting a fire at a western Massachusetts home that killed two of his neighbors. It was one of nine fires set within hours of one another in the community of Northampton. Anthony P. Baye was ordered held without bail Tuesday at his arraignment on two counts of [...]
Massachusetts Fire Deaths Ruled Homicides
The deaths of two men in one of a string of fires last weekend have been ruled homicides by the Massachusetts Medical Examiner’s office. Dr. Andrew Sexton on Wednesday “presumptively” identified the victims in the Sunday fire in Northampton, Mass., as 81-year-old Paul Yeskie Sr. and his son, 39-year-old Paul Yeskie Jr. Family members had [...]
Task Force to Probe Mass. Fires
A task force of state, regional and federal officials is investigating a string of suspicious weekend fires in Massachusetts, including one in which two people died. At least nine fires were reported early Sunday in houses and cars within a half-mile radius in the college town of Northampton, Mass. Authorities say they suspect arson. Officials [...]
Caltech Grad Gets Prison in SUV Firebombing Case
A graduate student of the California Institute of Technology has been sentenced to federal prison on charges of conspiracy for the firebombings of several sozen SUVs. The firebombings were reportedly part of an environmental protest. A Los Angeles judge sentenced William Cottrell on Monday to eight years and three months in prison. Cottrell was also [...]
California Man Set for Wine Warehouse Fire Hearing
A San Francisco wine keeper who was ready to stand trial for a fire that destroyed a warehouse has scheduled a change-of-plea hearing. The 2005 fire in the warehouse caused the loss of over six million bottles of wine, and an estimated two hundred fifty million dollars‘ worth of damage. The warehouse stored wines for [...]
DA: Arson-Related Heart Attacks are Murder
Five men were victims of heart attacks during the 2003 blaze that swept through the foothills of San Bernadino, including 70-year-old James McDermith. McDermith was a church deacon who was camping when he noticed smoke, attempting to pack together his things, and suffered a fatal heart attack. Prosecutors charged the suspected arsonist this week with [...]
Arsonist Burns Seattle Police Vehicles
The Fire Department of Seattle said that several police vehicles were set ablaze in a city maintenance yard in what police say was an attack of arson. Spokeswoman Helen Fitzpatrick said Thursday’s early morning fire caused serious damage to two police cars and one police van. She said the fire was quickly brought under control, [...]
Homeless Man Arrested in Fire Probe
A homeless man has been arrested and charged with arson for starting a fire in August near the spot authorities say a gigantic fire erupted several days later. The blaze eventually killed two firefighters. Babatunsin Olukunle, twenty-five, is currently the strongest lead in the arson investigation that stemmed from the fire responsible for the destruction [...]
Man Indicted with Murder, Arson for 2003 Ca. Wildfire
A prison inmate has been indicted for charges of murder and arson in the 2003 California wildfire that destroyed almost one thousand homes and was linked to six heart attack deaths. Rickie Lee Fowler, twenty-eight, was indicted on five counts of murder, one count of aggravated arson, and one count of arson in an inhabited [...]
Pomona Teen Charged for 2,100 Acre Wildfire
Los Angeles County authorities recently charged a thirteen-year-old boy they believe is responsible for setting a 2,100 acre wildfire with arson. Prosecutors levelled two charges against the boy, whose name was not released – arson of a forest and recklessly starting a fire. He is accused of starting a fire in the Los Angeles National [...]