The serial arsonist working Prince George's County and the District has not hit in almost a month. But 9 News has learned that investigators are poised to connect a new group of fires to the case.
The similar fires occurred in April and May, blocks apart in the same Oxon Hill neighborhood of Birchwood City. Workers are just finishing repairs to a Birchwood City home after a fire was set under a window in April.
The fire occurred overnight, as did the fire set one week earlier on the side of a house only a few blocks away. A month later the side of a Birchwood City home was burned as Ron McPherson slept inside.
Sources close to the case tell 9 News that investigators expect evidence sent to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms laboratory, to soon confirm that at least some of the Birchwood City fires are clearly linked to the six fires already positively connected to the same serial arsonist.
The fires set April 1st on Mystic Avenue, April 8th on Jarvis Avenue and May 10th on Fenwood Avenue are closer to each other geographically than any others in the series of fires. Prince Georges County so far has not included the Birchwood City fires on its overall list of 24 fires with similar characteristics in the county and DC.
If the Birchwood City fires sound somewhat familiar, the addresses and the addresses for four other Prince George's County fires were prematurely released by DC Police on July 2nd and then quickly withdrawn. Some of the other fires from the July 2nd list have been ruled out as being connected. And we are hearing that investigators believe that the list of 24 loosely connect fires can probably be cut by as much as half, but are reluctant to do so until they know more about where this investigation is headed.
There's a substantial reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the serial arsonist. If you have information, call the arson tip line. The number is (301) 77 - ARSON. That's (301) 772-7766.
