Case 98
The Pillow Pyro
*** Warning: This case involves a child victim ***
On the night of October 10 1984, a fire broke out at Ole’s Home Centre in South Pasadena that claimed the lives of four victims – Ada Deal, Matthew Troidl, Carolyn Kraus and Jimmy Cetina. Glendale arson investigator John Orr suspected the blaze had been deliberately lit, but his theory was dismissed and the fire was ruled a tragic accident.
Over the years that followed, a series of arson fires occurred throughout California that were started using a signature incendiary device set alight in piles of polyfoam. As arson investigators throughout the state tried to identify and apprehend the elusive Pillow Pyro, a suspect emerged in the most unlikely of places.
CREDITS
EPISODE:
Research & writing – Elsha McGill
Additional editing – Milly Raso
Narration – Anonymous Host
MUSIC:
‘Flatline intro’ and ‘Come play with me’ intro and outro – www.dl-sounds.com
Audio production – Mike Migas
Scoring – Mike Migas and Andrew Joslyn
OTHER:
Logo and website design – Paulina Szymanska
RESOURCES
BOOK:
Fire Lover: A True Story – Joseph Wambaugh
VIDEO:
Season 9, Episode 21: Point of Origin – Forensic Files
ARTICLES:
Firefighters who start fires: a look at the phenomenon of ‘firefighter arson’ – Edmonton Journal
Ex-Fire Investigator Gets Life Term in Fatal Arson – LA Times
Manuscript Adds Fuel to the Fire in Murder Case – LA Times
Firefighters searched the rubble of a gutted hardware store… – UPI
Burning Ambition – People
History in flames – Glendale News-Press
Arson: The Scorched-Earth Obsession – Newsweek
Ex-Fire Investigator Gets Life Term in Fatal Arson – LA Times
‘Nobody heard my side of the story’ – Glendale News-Press
Twisted Firestarter – Real Crime
DOCUMENTS:
Report on the Firefighter Arson Problem: Context, Considerations, and Best Practices
Special Report: Firefighter Arson