The Arsonist in Charleston...

[Hotsauce]

So for the past 10 years and estimated 83 houses in a small section of downtown have gone up in flames in the middle of the night. It is a very intriguing and downright scary story of some whack job cruising around in the crosstown area of downtown lighting fires in 100+ year old houses.

There are no suspects, and frankly no leads. There are a ton of theories out there like it could be a firefighter, or the fires could have been started by multiple people, etc...

The good thing is, so far there have been no deaths. The houses being burned, 9 out of 10 are rental properties. All of the houses are within walking distance, so the person has to live within his target zone.

There are so many elements to this case, like the city is using mathematics professor to analyze the data, there are psychologist profiling the suspect.

Anyway, it is a very long read, but is very interesting. I hope they catch this person very soon!

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2011/oct/03/02arsonintro/

[4Corners]

isn't arson detectable by fire inspectors????

[Doyle]

isn't arson detectable by fire inspectors????

What?

[Jangler]

Scott Glenn is doing it.

[4Corners]

who

[Hotsauce]

They say that most of the first are started with a match or lighter...they have not released any evidence of accelerants. They say that the fires start on furniture sitting on porches, or with sticks and brush..

[Jangler]

who

Scott Glenn

[Kitten Diver]

There was an arsonist in the neighborhood next to mine in Cornelius. They caught the piece of poo. Houses seemed to be burned wherever he was living. I hope they charge his ass with a whole lot of these because I hear it is 5 year max per case so the more he gets the better. Arson is like child molesting/rapist.. it doesnt go away. The only way to cure it is to put them in jail and them get that ass torn up by a gang member for the rest of their pooty lives.

http://www.wbtv.com/story/15481371/police-arrest-man-in-cornelius-serial-arson-case

To see those families homes burned to the ground along with all their memories makes you want to hang that son of a bitch . The only silver lining is that usually house burners wait until they know no one is home to do this poo.

[Carolina Husker]

Arson investigations rely on the detection of accelerants or the by products of their combustion along with certain burn patterns. A smart arsonist working on vacant structures where he has time for the fire to burn in a more natural manner could evade detection for quite some time.

*calls local authorities*

[Carolina Husker]

Actually my friend's parents' place in Charleston was one of the ones that got torched. My buddy lived there during college, and considering the debauchery that took place there, it was probably a good thing.

[thefuzz]

My father has been a firefighter and arson investigator for over 30 years. The state and some private insurance companies contract him and a friend of his every now and again to do what the CPD/CFD is trying to do now.

It is very hard to catch these guys, and even harder to prove that they did it unless you get confessions. I do have to wonder why he is sticking with the same MO. Usually over time the same old thing gets boring for them, and they have to up the ante.

P.S. If they do catch this guy, they may well get a confession. Arsonists are "proud" that they have gotten away with the crimes, and over a 10 year time he will be very proud.

[Hotsauce]

I think it is some looney tune that is pissed that downtown Charleston is turning into rental property galore. The area that he or she is targeting is/was primarily lower income families.