There are different common characteristics of serial arsonists. Arsonists are predominantly male and are usually not well educated. There is only one significant difference between an arsonist …show more content…
In some states arson may only be charged with a misdemeanor. If a fire causes significant damage or a loss of life then prison is usually the punishment. As well as prison the suspect may also face fines. Arson often involves property damage
There are six types/MOs of arson; Excitement, Vandalism, revenge, crime concealment, profit, and extremism/terrorist. Excitement is the most common motive. Usually the suspect of this type are thrill seekers who want attention. This type of arsonist will usually commit the crime in or near a place or area familiar to them. It is not uncommon for the unsub to remain at the scene. The unsub may even photograph or videotape the scene.
Vandalism is the second type of arson. Vandalism arson is defined as malicious act of causing damage to property via firesetting. Most of the time these types of fires are set to abandoned buildings, vehicles, brush and schools. The fires often are often a result of peer pressure, sometimes related to gangs.
Revenge is the third type of arson. Revenge arson is retaliation are or for a perceived injustice. This type of arson is dangerous. Targets are usually specific people like a faculty member or someone they know. The firesetter often sets the person's home, car or possessions on fire. Because this is revenge arson, the crime is messy and …show more content…
He also would set fires in grassy fields to draw the firefighters away from where he would set his other fires. Orr’s first fire was in 1984. Orr set a fire that destroyed a hardware store called Ole’s Home Center Hardware. Ole’s Home Center Hardware was located in a shopping plaza, so it was in the open. The fire killed four people. A grandmother named Ada Deal and her two year old grandson were among the victims. The other two victims were workers at the store named Carolyn Kraus and Jimmy Cetina. The store was completely incinerated. John and his team of investigators were the ones who determined the cause of the fire. Other investigators deemed the cause as an electrical fire. Orr insisted that the fire was arson. Later on investigators found it that the fire was started with highly flammable polyurethane products.
In January 1987 John Leonard Orr started more fires. This time the fire was in Fresno California at an arson investigators conference. During this convention a couple of suspicious fires were started. John was given a nickname, Pillow Pyro. His nickname came to be because he liked to start bedding, laced with polyurethane, on fire. He also liked to burn