arson Archives - Home Safety Tech Pros

Man stabbed victim 55 times, then lit body in trunk on fire

homesafetytechpros — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 06:12:37 +0000

Police in Portland, Oregon, investigate the murder of 27-year-old Andrew Hathaway (KOIN).

An Oregon jury convicted a man of stabbing a friend 55 times and then stuffing his body in the trunk of the victim’s own car and lighting it on fire.

Robert Thomas Colon, 44, was found guilty of the Sept. 5, 2018, murder of Andrew Hathaway, 27, in Portland, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office said last week in a press release. Before the trial began, Colon pleaded guilty to arson, abuse of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence. He’s slated to be sentenced on Wednesday. Colon faces a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 25 years.

According to prosecutors, Colon and Hathaway were visiting a home where two other men lived, and they all got high. At some point during the night, Colon and Hathaway began a fistfight. Colon was winning the fight and Hathaway began screaming for help. The two other men broke up the fight and things calmed down for a bit. But then the fight started up again with “Colon beating and stabbing Hathaway until he was dead,” prosecutors said.

Colon and one of the other men moved the body to the trunk of Hathaway’s car. They then drove to a vacant lot and lit it ablaze. Fire crews put out the blaze and discovered the remains. Hathaway’s body was unrecognizable as 80% of his remains were charred, prosecutors said.

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Woman threatened to blow up man’s oxygen tank: Police

homesafetytechpros — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 21:55:55 +0000

Background: Jeltz Senior Center in Oklahoma City, Okla. (Google Maps). Inset: Marketta Bates (Oklahoma County Detention Center).

An Oklahoma woman was arrested after she allegedly threatened a senior center resident with a knife and tried to blow up his oxygen machine.

Marketta Bates, 33, was taken into custody on Jan. 20 after an incident the same day at the Jeltz Senior Center in Oklahoma City. According to a police report obtained by KOKH, a local Fox affiliate, officers responded to calls about an assault at the center. When they arrived, they found Bates in a common area where a chaotic scene was taking place. The alleged victim, who was not named, told police that Bates pointed a knife at him after she threatened to light his oxygen tank on fire. Police saw the alleged victim’s oxygen tank on the ground near him, leaking liquid.

In bodycam video from one of the officers, Bates can be heard explaining that she was visiting a relative at the center. She also allowed police to search her as they handcuffed her and took her out of the building. The report noted that when asked if she was carrying any weapons, she informed police that there was a knife in her bag, which police found.

The police report stated that the alleged victim told officers he was selling clothes in the common area when Bates confronted him about her mother’s stolen phone. He said that when he tried to get her to calm down, she reportedly became upset, and an argument began. She also reportedly yelled at other residents who were in the area.

The confrontation escalated when Bates allegedly threatened to light the man’s oxygen tank on fire. He quickly detached the breathing tubes that were connected, and other residents attempted to intervene and stop Bates. She reportedly slammed the oxygen tank to the ground and then turned to a garbage pail, which she allegedly attempted to set alight.

The man then said Bates made slashing motions at her with a knife.

Police reviewed security footage and were able to match the alleged victim’s account of events, save for the knife.

When they arrived, they arrested Bates and charged her with attempted arson and assault and battery with a deadly weapon. She was booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center on $10,000 bond.

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TikTok fan sparks blaze at lawmaker’s office over ban: Cops

homesafetytechpros — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 20:32:50 +0000

Inset: Wisconsin Rep. Glenn Grothman (Facebook). Background: The office of Rep. Glenn Grothman where a fire was started over the weekend (WISN/YouTube).

The office of a congressman in Wisconsin was targeted in an arson attack sparked by a 19-year-old man upset over the “recent talks of a TikTok ban,” according to police.

Rep. Glenn Grothman, a Republican, had voted in April 2024 in favor of the bill that mandated TikTok’s China-based parent company, ByteDance, cease U.S. operations by Sunday, Jan. 19, with the move being upheld by a Supreme Court ruling last week.

The Fond du Lac Police Department reported in a press release Sunday that Grothman’s office, which is located in a strip mall in Fond du Lac, was targeted overnight by a man who police have not publicly named yet. The individual was allegedly livid over the prospect of a TikTok ban, which went into effect Sunday — temporarily, it turned out — before being lifted by the social media giant just 14 hours later.

“At approximately 1:02 a.m., FDLPD Officers along with the City of Fond du Lac Fire Rescue responded for a possible structure fire at 525 N. Peters Avenue,” the department reported. “FDLPD Officers arrived and used fire extinguishers to hold the fire in check until Fire Companies arrived and extinguished the fire. FDLPD Officers located a 19-year-old Menasha male resident near the strip mall. The male admitted to starting the fire in response to recent talks of a TikTok ban.”

FDLPD Chief Aaron Goldstein explained in a statement that accompanied the department press release that no one was injured in the fire as Grothman’s office was unoccupied at the time. Still, the attack is being treated as a serious offense, Goldstein says.

“Acts of violence in any form are not tolerated, and we remain committed to protecting the safety and well-being of our community,” Goldstein said. “I am thankful for the swift response of our Officers in helping knock down the fire and also locating the suspect of this arson.”

The U.S. TikTok ban was carried out late Saturday at around 10:35 p.m. ET, according to reports.

“Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now,” a message read when users tried opening the app. “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now.”

Fourteen hours later, a welcome message was implemented saying President Donald Trump had promised to “work” with ByteDance “on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!”

Grothman on Sunday told local ABC affiliate WISN that the fire at his office is a perfect example of what not to do when upset with your congressman or things they voted for.

“The TikTok issue is really secondary,” Grothman said. “I deal with, obviously, dozens of issues up here and we cannot have people if they disagree with me say the way to settle that disagreement is, ‘Let’s try and burn down the congressman’s office.””

Police say the suspect is being held at the Fond du Lac County Jail on a charge of arson, with his case being referred to the Fond du Lac County District Attorney’s Office on Sunday. “More information is anticipated to be released if and when a criminal complaint is filed by the District Attorney’s Office,” FDLPD officials said.

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Woman who started fire with a bag of Takis is sentenced

homesafetytechpros — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 21:18:51 +0000

Patricia Faye Williams (Greene County Jail).

A Missouri woman who pleaded guilty to committing arson with a bag of Takis tortilla chips will spend the next 12 years in prison.

Patricia Faye Williams, 43, originally pleaded not guilty when she was charged with first-degree arson after starting a fire at a Greene County residence in 2023. According to court documents, she changed her plea to guilty during an appearance on Tuesday. She had been set to go on trial on Monday, Jan. 13.

According to the probable cause statement written by Springfield Fire Marshal Travis Morrissey, a woman called 911 on the afternoon of Aug. 11, 2023 to report that another woman — later identified as Williams — had set fire to a home in Greene County. A police officer who had been investigating the smoke was nearby and arrived at the scene, where three people, including one in a wheelchair, were waiting outside. One person there, identified as Victim 3 in the statement, named Williams as the one who set the fire.

Williams was detained by police and observed to have soot on her face and “complaining of smoke inhalation.” She was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, and in the meantime, it was discovered that there were several warrants out for her arrest. She was promptly arrested.

When Morrissey arrived at the scene, he spoke to three people who were waiting outside, one of whom — Victim 1 — was a resident of the flame-engulfed house. Victims 2 and 3 were visitors, and both of them told Morrissey that they saw Williams “pour gasoline from a soda bottle onto clothes and the floor in the laundry room.” They also saw her “ignite Takis chips on fire” and then toss the flaming bag of chips onto the clothes soaked in gasoline.

Morrissey said that he conducted a brief field test to see if Takis chips could “support a flame,” which he said they could.

No one at the scene was hurt, and everyone inside the house was able to escape unharmed.

Upon smelling an “ignitable fluid” in the laundry room, Morrissey concluded that the fire was set intentionally with the fluid used as an accelerant.

While at the emergency room at the hospital, Williams was read her rights and questioned by Morrissey. According to his statement, she admitted to buying $2 worth of gasoline. She was also caught on a surveillance camera at the gas station making that purchase. Williams also stated that she used Takis chips to set the fire because “she knew they would support combustion because of their grease content.”

After Williams was taken into custody, she was held at the Greene County Jail without bond and deemed a danger to others.

On Tuesday, she changed her plea to guilty and received a sentence of 12 years in prison.

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Man allegedly threatens revenge murder of judge, prosecutor

homesafetytechpros — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 05:57:30 +0000

Brian Tucker (Boone County Jail).

A Kentucky man is behind bars after threatening to kill a local judge and prosecutor, authorities in the Bluegrass State say.

Brian Tucker, 48, stands accused of retaliating against participants in a legal process, according to Boone County court records.

The arrest occurred on Nov. 27. The criminal case stems from a long-ago fire at the home of one of the defendant’s friends. The knock-on effects of that blaze have plagued Tucker’s life for several years.

In 2016, the fire destroyed the home in question, according to court records obtained by The Cincinnati Enquirer — which serves as the daily paper for much of the northern Kentucky region.

In 2018, Tucker was indicted on counts of complicity to commit arson and insurance fraud. The man, however, was innocent — a jury of his peers acquitted Tucker of all the charges against him in 2019.

Then came a lawsuit.

After being vindicated by the criminal justice system, Tucker looked for relief in civil law. He sued Kentucky Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company and Green Light Fire Investigations — alleging the companies provided false evidence to law enforcement that led to his indictment.

In July of this year, a judge dismissed Tucker’s civil lawsuit with prejudice, according to court records cited by the newspaper.

Recently, one of Tucker’s friends reached out to police.

When making that tip, the friend allegedly said the defendant had been threatening to violently kill both 16th Judicial District Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Sanders and a female judge.

“[He] specified the gym where Sanders works out and articulated plans to either sneak up behind Sanders and slit his throat or hide in the woods and ‘snipe’ Sanders with a rifle,” according to a criminal complaint filed in the case.

Sanders himself spoke with investigators, said he knew Tucker, and that he and Tucker go to the same gym, police say.

The jurist was later identified as Kenton County Circuit Judge Kathy Lape by the prosecutor, according to the complaint. Sanders allegedly told police that she oversaw Tucker’s criminal trial. The Enquirer, on the other hand, said Kenton County Chief Circuit Judge Patricia Summe oversaw both Tucker’s criminal trial and civil case.

Interviews with the defendant’s loved ones followed — and authorities did not seem to like what they heard.

Tucker’s brother and girlfriend both allegedly gave some version of a story where he had recently been acting out of sorts.

The defendant’s girlfriend allegedly said he had not been home for days. Tucker’s brother allegedly said he was “suffering from a mental break and going through violent mood swings,” according to the complaint.

The defendant’s brother also advised caution for investigators, allegedly telling them to be careful because he hates law enforcement and has violent tendencies, according to a copy of the complaint obtained by Newport, Kentucky-based Fox affiliate WXIX.

In the end, the friend said they decided to report Tucker to law enforcement because they had also become subject to the threats. The friend allegedly attributed the diffusion of blame to Tucker consuming large amounts of cocaine.

Tucker is currently being detained in the Boone County Jail on $500,000 cash bond.

The defendant does not currently have an attorney of record or a scheduled court appearance, Boone County records show.

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Sen. Bernie Sanders office fire: Feds arrest suspect

homesafetytechpros — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 11:47:47 +0000

A man, later identified as Shant Soghomonian, right, allegedly set the door to Sen. Bernie Sanders’ office on Friday in Burlington, Vermont. Soghomonian was arrested on Sunday. (Soghomonian: Burlington police; Sanders: AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

The man who allegedly set fire to the door to Sen. Bernie Sanders office in Burlington, Vermont, has been arrested, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Authorities took Shant Soghomonian, also known as Michael Soghomonian, 35, into custody on Sunday. He’s accused of using an accelerant on the door of Sanders’ office at 1 Church Street on Friday morning, setting it ablaze and running away. The whole incident was captured on surveillance video, officials said.

The Burlington Police Department said a “significant fire engulfed the door and part of the vestibule” trapping several Sanders staffers inside.

The sprinkler system turned on which largely put out the fire. First responders evacuated the Sanders staffers as well as workers in surrounding offices. The door and vestibule received moderate damage while there was significant water damage to the area and floors below Sanders’ office, cops said.

Burlington police released a photo of the suspect on Friday and officials had him arrested less than 48 hours later. A motive for the fire hasn’t been released. Sanders was in California speaking to striking hotel workers on Friday.

If convicted, Soghomonian faces between 5 years and 20 years in prison along with a fine of up to $250,000.

“We are grateful to the Burlington Fire and Police Departments who responded immediately today to a fire incident that took place in our office building,” Kathryn Van Haste, the Vermont state director for Senator Sanders, said in a statement to the New York Times.

Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak in a statement to CNN thanked law enforcement for bringing a “swift resolution” to the investigation.

“My office has offered the support of the Burlington Community Justice Center to Senator Sanders’s staff, and we will continue to be in close communication as their office navigates the impacts of this incident,” she said.

Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

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