Motives for Arson

Arson• The willful use of fire to destroy property or

cause bodily harm– defraud insurance– thrill crime– revenge/hate crime– murder– sex crime

• Personalities of arsonists vary widely dependent upon motive– typically juvenile males

Investigating Suspicious FiresArsonists’ Motives

There are several motives for most arson fires: economic, revenge, intimidation, and extortion Examples: Burning of buildings to collect on the artificially inflated

insurance value Setting fire to a place in revenge or to teach the owner a

“lesson” Setting fire to a business

that refuses to pay for protection

Defraud insurance

• Arson is one way to defraud property insurance– maximum effort to hide nature of crime– period of financial crisis– outdated inventory– relocating/renovating business– take advantage of government redevelopment incentives– false inventory claims

• Timing of fire---children out of home• removal of psychological valuables• faked vandalism

Thrill Arson• Typically perpetrated by male children/juveniles• 15-20% females• Typically sloppier, more clearly arson, targets may be

valueless• Accidental arson - less likely to do damage

– fires start in isolated areas– “proper instruction” nearly valueless

• “Angry Child” firesetters– typically 7-13– fire set at home or parental property– little effort to hide arson– conflicted homes?

Thrill Arson 2

• “Delinquent” firesetter is about 11+– arson to cover up vandalism– targets may be abandoned buildings--or revenge targets

• “Pleasure” arsonist– children or juveniles who love fire– fantasize about fire– most likely group to eventually set fatal fires– stay to watch fire– sex arsonists as adults

Revenge/Hate Crime

• Targeted specific individuals/groups– African-American church burnings– abortion clinic firebombings

• Personalities may mix paranoid, antisocial and passive-aggressive traits– may be active, but not accepted in hate groups– typically “fringe” individuals– low social skills– cowardly– may have arrest record for trespass/vandalism (less likely for

assault)

Arson as Murder

• Arson may be used to attempt to hide nature of crime– hard to pull off with forensic medicine– reflects complete detachment with victim– fire may start near/on victims

• Arson also used to cover up evidence– Destroys much forensic evidence– may reflect premeditation– still demonstrates detachment from victim

Arson as Murder 2

• Arson as family annihilation– almost always male– reflects desperate antisocial personality

• Arson as murder weapon– reflects EXTREME hatred of victim– high likelihood of intimate/sexual bond– sadistic traits to personality– used by both males and females

Sex Crime Arson

• Rarest and arguably most dangerous form of arson (pyromania)• Sex arsonist receive pleasure from watching destructive fire• May stay to watch fire• Escalation of crime• Personality features:

– highly deviant, may have some psychotic traits– typically loners, unlikely to have willing partner– hateful personalities, deviant sexual fantasies– spotty work histories– older, poorly maintained automobiles

Waco Texas

• David Koresh and Branch Davidians– stockpile serious weapons– FBI insiders

• Feb 28, 1993 ATF raid– ATF--4 dead 16 injured– BD---undetermined dead and wounded (Koresh is wounded)– FBI takes over scene, talks begin– Brand Davidian killed trying to return to compound

• March 2– Koresh promises to surrender if tape of his preachings broadcast– tape is broadcast, no surrender

Waco 2

• Conciliatory gesture--drop charges on 2 women• FBI profilers suggest increasing pressure bad idea• March 5

– 9yo girl released with “suicide” note• March 9

– electricity cut to compound• March 12

– Reno sworn in as AG• March 15

– turn floodlights on compound, refuse to listen to “Bible babble”

Waco 3• March 25

– armored cars begin removing motorcycles from compound• March 29

– Koresh and negotiator meet face to face over objections of US attorneys and Texas Rangers

• April 2-9, Koresh promises surrender after “passover” but later recants

• April 13 Tear gas plan approved by Reno and Clinton• April 16 Koresh states he will not come out until he writes a

manuscript explaining the “seven seals”• April 15 FBI concludes BDs have enough food and water to survive 1

year• April 18, BDs hold children up in tower window with sign “Flames

await”

April 19

• 5:59 Negotiators warn BDs of tear-gas attack, advise them to come out

• 6:02 CEVs begin inserting flammable tear gas• 6:04 BDs open fire on CEVs

– FBI BFVs return fire

• 7:30 compound wall breached • 7:45-11:45 CEVs tear apart compound• Noon: BDs begin systematically

– setting fires

Waco Fire• 12:25 gunfire from within compound• 12:45 Firefighting efforts begin

– 9 survivors– approx 80 dead including 22 children– Koresh among dead

• Contentious issues– Not sure if ATF or BDs fired first– BDs did set fire