2 arson cases

still open

in New Ulm

Fire marshal:

Convictions

difficult to get

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- One thing that frustrates Casey Stotts about arson is public attitudes towards the crime.

"Most people don't realize how much money is involved," said the deputy state fire marshal from his office in Hutchinson. "Some juries don't realize arsonists reoffend after they're acquitted."

Another thing that bothers Stotts is the number of open arson cases he has in his district. Since 1997, there have been 42 fires that were ruled arson. But only about half of those investigations have led to convictions. Stotts said the turnaround rate is actually normal.

"A lot of times, arson is really hard to prove," he explained. "It's hard to prove because it's hard to prove who did it."

The kicker with an arson fire is the evidence. In many cases, investigators will have an idea of the suspect, but no hard evidence that nails the case down.

Another added frustration is lack of cooperation. Stotts said public tips have helped in closing some arson cases.

"But a lot of the time, people are afraid," Stotts said. "They fear retaliation, they fear going against their friends and some of them don't want to be involved."

Stotts said a typical arson fire burns hot and very rapidly. He said arsonists usually have one of three motives -- profit, revenge or vanity. The most common motive is profit.

Sometimes the case is that business is slow, or a company has high inventory or high debt, Stotts said. Houses are purposely torched sometimes because the owners are unable to keep up on their payments or have extra property they want to dispose of.

By Stotts' estimate, exactly $10.1 million was lost because of arson fires in Minnesota in 2000. A total of 1,889 arson fires were reported and one arson fire was reported every 4.6 hours. Additionally, 35 people have died and $219 million in property losses happened over the past 12 years because of arson, Stotts said.

Among the open cases Stotts has in his district are two house fires that occurred in New Ulm this past year.

The first one gutted the garage of a house at 607 N. Broadway, owned by Delila Maidl, on Oct. 10, 2001, causing an estimated $30,000 to 40,000 to not only the garage itself but also to the two cars parked inside and several other belongings.

The second suspected arson happened on the night of Jan. 5 at a mobile home at 2526 S. Bridge St.

According to Stotts, the home was a total loss valued at $12,000.

Arson is suspected in the two fires, Stotts, said because both had multiple points of origin. In the Broadway fire, investigators determined that the arsonist set the fire to the garage in a remote corner after entering through an unlocked door. Stotts said samples taken from the mobile home on South Bridge Street "tested positive for gasoline."

"It's tough to prove it," said New Ulm Fire Chief David Wolf. "The symptoms are there, but to try and prove it is another thing."

A memorandum from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety's State Fire Marshal Division said the Minnesota Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators is offering a $2,500 reward for any information leading to the identification of the people responsible for the fires.

The Arson Hotline phone number is 1-800-723-2020. The memo said callers can remain anonymous if they so choose.