D.C. Area Serial Arsonist Still on Loose

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A big reward and hundreds of tips haven't led to an arrest of the arsonist responsible for up to 35 fires around the nation's capital that have killed one person and injured 10.

The fires, which began a year ago, have shaken residents in parts of the area that in the past 2 1/2 years has seen a terrorist attack, anthrax letters and sniper shootings.

"It's a very scary situation,'' District of Columbia Councilman Vincent Orange said. Several of the fires have occurred in his ward, and constituents have expressed concerns at community meetings.

"I tell them the arsonist has a pattern of doing this between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m., and so we need to be vigilant and have a dog or something that can make noise,'' Orange said.

Since a telephone tip line was established last July, more than 500 calls and e-mails offering information have been received. A sketch of a possible suspect began circulating last month, prompting 150 new tips but no arrests.

Profilers say the suspect is likely to be angry or troubled. Studies of serial arsonists have found them to be skilled liars capable of being charming, manipulative and cunning. They also are quick to blame others for problems in their personal or professional lives.

"Somebody out there knows this person, and they know that they are out those times of night or early morning when the fires are occurring,'' said Victor Stagnero, lead arson investigator for the Prince George's County, Md., Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department.

Since March 8, there have been 18 fires in Washington and 17 in areas that border the city, mainly Prince George's County. An 86-year-old woman was killed in one of the blazes.

The last two fires considered similar enough in nature to be added to the list were Feb. 6 in Fairfax, Va., and Feb. 14 in Silver Spring, Md.

Nearly a dozen residents of homes that have been damaged declined to discuss the fires, although some acknowledged they are concerned that no arrests have been made. Authorities are advising people to remain alert, keep their porch lights on at night, and consider installing motion-activated lighting on their property.

"We certainly need people to be vigilant if we're going to catch this guy,'' Washington Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey said.

Solving an arson is not easy. According to FBI statistics, only 16 percent of arson investigations end in arrests. To spur tips, a $35,000 reward has been established for information leading to the arrest of a suspect for the Washington-area fires.

Investigators also have consulted with Seattle authorities, where scores of arsons in four counties a decade ago were linked to a single suspect. Paul Kenneth Keller, then 27, pleaded guilty to setting 32 fires and acknowledged setting 44 others. He was sentenced to 75 years in prison.

In the Seattle cases, Keller was recognized by a firefighter who found that he resembled two of three sketches released by investigators. Keller's father confirmed his identity and informed investigators that his son had been caught setting fire to a vacant house when he was 8 or 9, and was once fired from a bookkeeper's job following a suspicious fire at his desk.

Washington-area firefighters have gone door to door in some neighborhoods where the fires have occurred, distributing sketches and urging residents and business owners to be alert for anything suspicious.

"Someone's going to recognize the profile information and the sketch we've put out, and be able to help us lock this person up,'' Stagnero said.

Related: