Officials Still Unclear on Maryland Arson Motive

    Dec. 21, 2004
    Even with more arrests made and suspects still being interviewed, authorities say they have not found a motive for an arson that caused an estimated $10 million in damage at an upscale housing development.
    GREENBELT, Md. (AP) -- Even with more arrests made and suspects still being interviewed, authorities say they have not found a motive for an arson that caused an estimated $10 million in damage at an upscale housing development.

    Two new arrests Monday brought the total to six. No one was injured in the Dec. 6 fires, Maryland's largest case of residential arson.

    Two possible motives, race and revenge, are among the theories that have emerged during questioning of the men in custody, an official has said. But a spokesman for the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said several other factors also were under consideration.

    Four of the men arrested are white while many of the families moving into the development are black. The races of two of the men in custody had not been made public.

    Initially, there was speculation the fires were set by environmental extremists because some critics had complained the houses threatened a nearby bog. No evidence has been found to support that theory, according to police.

    The pre-dawn blazes destroyed at least 10 houses and damaged 16 others at the upscale Hunters Brooke development, which was under construction. Authorities said they had interviewed or planned to question additional people who may be connected to the fires. Just one of the houses was occupied; it was not significantly damaged and the family was able to return home last week.

    The first suspect, Aaron L. Speed, a security guard who worked at the site, was arrested last week. His detention hearing was set for Tuesday.

    Two other suspects were expected to appear Tuesday on federal charges before a magistrate judge in Greenbelt. Roy T. McCann, 22, and Michael E. Gilbert, 21, were arrested Monday, according to the U.S. attorney's office in Baltimore.

    Three suspects arrested during the weekend have been ordered held until a detention hearing Thursday. The 20-year-old men - Michael M. Everhart, Jeremy D. Parady and Patrick S. Walsh - made initial court appearances Monday.

    Parady's lawyer, Tim Sullivan, planned to argue that his client should be released on bail.

    ``He's a volunteer firefighter who has taken an oath to protect lives and protect property and he's innocent of these charges,'' Sullivan said.

    Several of the suspects were interested in street racing and may have been members of an informal street racing club, according to a law enforcement official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

    The men would meet at a fast-food restaurant parking lot in Waldorf, according to the source. An affidavit filed for Everhart, Parady and Walsh said they met with Speed and unnamed ``acquaintances'' at the parking lot before they allegedly went to set the fires.

    According to affidavits, Everhart, Parady and Walsh initially denied any involvement, then changed their stories after being confronted with evidence.

    Everhart said he knew about the plot to set the fires beforehand and was at the scene, but claimed he left before any houses were torched.

    Neighbors said Everhart and Speed used to work on cars in their front yards.

    ``He told me he wanted to be a policeman. I thought he was getting his life straight,'' said one neighbor, Charlie Heizmann.

    If convicted of arson, the men face a minimum prison sentence of five years each. The maximum penalty is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

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