A couple interesting things I noticed.

First, the videotape was found exactly one year to the day that the fire had been set. We don't learn this until the update of course, but what an odd coincidence. I wonder if Beavis and Butthead intentionally "released" the tape on this day as some sort of odd clue; Clearly, an unintentional cry for help regardless of their intended meaning.

Second, for those of you who have seen the NBC version, did you notice that the name of the family who found the tape was changed for the Lifetime version? I won't say the name as I can imagine it was changed for legal or privacy reasons. But yeah, it was different.

If I'm not mistaken I remember an update where this was solved. Am I correct? Veeeeerrrrrryyyyyyy creeeeeeeeeeeeeeepy voice indeed!

Well I never really bought that the vhs tape was found by coincidence. Its just a little too convenient that it was laying out by the road. Plus knowing that this was some teenager it would make sense to me that he wanted attention. Its not likely that he went to all the trouble to videotape the fire and go through all his chanting on there if he were going to be the only one to watch it. I think he was so proud of himself he wanted to share the tape with the world.

I did notice that about the last names JS. They must have saw their actual names when it initially ran and requested UM change that. I can't say I blame them though as then no one had been arrested yet.

Love your avatar, kamy! ;)

The case of the arsonist is on Crystal´s volume#2, after a "similar" case (Clarence Roberts: 2 deaths, 2 fires). I really don´t know if this version is from NBC or Lifetime, but it includes an update with the arrest of two teenagers. I think the case was profiled, back in April, on Cold Case Files, where they showed the main suspect and his friend in costumes. They really look funny to say the least. Unbelieveable that these "kids" were responsible for the Omar tape, that, I´m positive, scared a lot of us , when we first saw the case featured on UM.

I like both of your avatars kamy and ididn'tdoit : "Sam" from the Beverly McGowan case, one of the scariest composite sketches so far. The authorities claim that "Sam" was also Elaine Parent (the main suspect in Beverly McGowan´s murder), but Michael McGowan, Beverly´s nephew, who has posted in this forum, is adamant that there was one male accomplice who hasn´t been caught. By the way this case is on Crystaldawn´s Volume #3 collection, and on the banned video site thanks to a guy called jpenn. Thanks so much Crystal, and thanks to you jpenn whoever you are.

I bet the guy that picked up the tape thought it was gonna be a sex tape

Hey! There's nothing wrong with picking up a sex tape by the side of the road and assuming that it was going to be a sex tape.... :D

That being said, I never noticed that the names changed. Interesting. I wonder why.

...and Kamy, your avatar is FREAKY. (aka Nice work!)

I bet the guy that picked up the tape thought it was gonna be a sex tape

I bet he was a biker. :p

This case was one of the scariest cases profiled on UM EVER!!!!! It gives me the chills just thinking about that voice!!!!! **shudders**

...and Kamy, your avatar is FREAKY. (aka Nice work!)

Is there an avatar in this thread that isn't freaky? :eek:

What happened to a nice simple orange butt?

I bet he was a biker. :p

:p :p :p

That would be a bit freaky though, as I remember the reconstruction didn't he put the tape in with his family sitting watching with him? it could have been anything on that tape:eek:


Hey! There's nothing wrong with picking up a sex tape by the side of the road and assuming that it was going to be a sex tape.... :D

That being said, I never noticed that the names changed. Interesting. I wonder why.

...and Kamy, your avatar is FREAKY. (aka Nice work!)

LOL yeah in the re-enactment they were all sitting around like it was gonna be family movie night or something. I wonder if they listened to the satanic heavy metal audio tapes too? Maybe there was some residue left in the mortar and pestle, "the kind used in satanic rituals" :lol: :wave: :talk: :crazy:


That would be a bit freaky though, as I remember the reconstruction didn't he put the tape in with his family sitting watching with him? it could have been anything on that tape:eek:

I just thought of something ... in the video, the friend of OMAR says of the firemen: "What a laugh!" ... as in, "your lights are a laugh" ... now, I'm admittedly from down south, but that's not a common expression in my opinion. Could the cops have unknowingly found the Wackers' tormentor as well?!?

I just thought of something ... in the video, the friend of OMAR says of the firemen: "What a laugh!" ... as in, "your lights are a laugh" ... now, I'm admittedly from down south, but that's not a common expression in my opinion. Could the cops have unknowingly found the Wackers' tormentor as well?!?

That's a pretty common expression.

He did watch it with his family! LOL!!! I wonder why someone would do that!!! Freeeeaky!!!!!

LOL. Yeah, considering that he may have thought it was a sex tape... it is pretty funny that he watched it with his family. :)

LOL. Yeah, considering that he may have thought it was a sex tape... it is pretty funny that he watched it with his family. :)


"We're going to watch something a little bit different tonight, kids..." :lol:

The mind boggles-daddy what's that man doing to that horse? :crazy:


LOL. Yeah, considering that he may have thought it was a sex tape... it is pretty funny that he watched it with his family. :)

LOL yeah in the re-enactment they were all sitting around like it was gonna be family movie night or something.
:lol:
I wonder what ever became of the kids involved in this arson. That Look At It Omar tape could be on their imdb page. :)

Perhaps I am in the minority, but I didn't find the arsonist's voice creepy. It was pretty obvious it was a teenager mimicking an "evil" arsonist, the way he laughed and faked to yell by talking more intensely in a low voice, screamed that the interlocutor was an idiot not really wanting to be heard more than a dangerous offender angry at "Omar".

Now of course, we all know in hindsight that it was an idiotic pair of teenagers, but even the first time I heard it I thought "meh, these are idiot adolescents playing to be evil". The only thing that made them criminals was the arson itself, and the fact that they condemned to be registered as known arsonists until their thirties was punishment enough.

The fact that the tape was found one year to the day of the arson is not surprising. Maury Terry talks about this in his book, The Ultimate Evil. It is very common for satanic cults to celebrate crimes, events, etc exactly one year to the day after the original crime happened. My guess is the tape was planted by the arsonist that morning. BTW, does anyone have any pictures of the kids responsible for teh fire?

I thought the voice was freaky until he said "...hear the coyotes yell!" my friend and I coudn't stop laughing after that.

For some reason the tape reminds me of the "Guardian" tape in the UFO case from Canada. Now THAT was freaky!

I thought the voice was freaky until he said "...hear the coyotes yell!" my friend and I coudn't stop laughing after that.
In hindsight after realizing how silly the kids were when I saw them on Cold Case Files, the Omar tape is pretty comedic. I'm just glad they burnt down a house that was under construction and no one was hurt physically.

"Perhaps I am in the minority, but I didn't find the arsonist's voice creepy."



I am with you. I found the voice quite amusing. It sounded like a kid trying way too hard to sound evil.

"Perhaps I am in the minority, but I didn't find the arsonist's voice creepy."



I am with you. I found the voice quite amusing. It sounded like a kid trying way too hard to sound evil.

Yeah, I kinda agree with you guys (I admit this segment really creeped me out when I was a kid though :eek:) But I remember one part where he says "great spirit of eeeeviiiil!!!" or something to that effect, where he tries to sound real mean, lol! That just cracks me up! :lol: sounds like a line from a cheesy horror flick :lol:

Hey, who is that guy in your avatar? It looks like the guy who is suspected of his wife's disappearance that owned a video store (the name escapes me).

I believe that is Paul Pollis, husband of Charlotte Pollis who went missing a little while back.

BTW, does anyone have any pictures of the kids responsible for teh fire?

They were juveniles at the time so pictures probably weren't released to the public. However, one of the other documentaries on the case did show some home video footage of them (or at least one of them) dressed up in weird costumes. The kid had on a monster head mask though, so you couldn't see his face.

I believe that is Paul Pollis, husband of Charlotte Pollis who went missing a little while back.
Yeah, you're right. I wonder what the guy's name is that owned the video store whose wife disappeared.

Yeah, you're right. I wonder what the guy's name is that owned the video store whose wife disappeared.

That would be Rob Page :)

And yes that was indeed Paul Pollis, he looks so funny in some of the photos UM showed :lol:

Did anybody ever find out the arsonist's name or what became of him after he got out of the psych ward? I would have thought his name would have slipped out on the internet by now, but that doesn't seem to have happened yet as far as I can tell.

Did anybody ever find out the arsonist's name or what became of him after he got out of the psych ward? I would have thought his name would have slipped out on the internet by now, but that doesn't seem to have happened yet as far as I can tell.

I'm a bit lazy, but I'm pretty sure if you search the forums by typing OMAR ARSONIST, you'll find one of the older threads that talks about the case being featured on a similar UM type show, where they name the arsonist in that thread. Apparently the kid was real "horror show".

Much more than the UM segment, it was the other crime show (forgot which one) that showed home movies of the kid and all his "satanic" gear.

Watching that, my opinion went from a somewhat mild: Stupid Kid Setting Fires Thinks He's Satan's Buddy. Probably has a ouija board and tries to summon Sid Vicious and impress his friends....

....and changed to a definite feeling of dread mixed with a little horror because I realized the guy wasn't playing games and was truly very disturbed.

Did anybody ever find out the arsonist's name or what became of him after he got out of the psych ward? I would have thought his name would have slipped out on the internet by now, but that doesn't seem to have happened yet as far as I can tell.

I don't think the names were ever released because both suspects were under 18 at the time the crimes were committed.

As some other posters have pointed out, there was another true crime show that profiled the case (maybe it was Cold Case Files?) that showed more home videos the kids had made including some footage of them wearing monster head masks and costumes. Their faces were never shown or were blurred in the footage I saw.

OT, but I've often wondered if the Red Wood City Police department still has the unedited arson footage and would duplicate it possibly for a small fee. The tape collector geek in me would like to see it.

OT, but I've often wondered if the Red Wood City Police department still has the unedited arson footage and would duplicate it possibly for a small fee. The tape collector geek in me would like to see it.

That would be pretty creepy to watch the entire unedited version. But I'd still love to see it as well.

I searched that term and could not find where his name was brought up on here.
I have seen the cold case files version, and I do know the names were not officially released. But often these things have a way of surfacing on the web. All it takes is the perps themselves, or someone who knows them mentioning something somewhere.
What I'm really interested in knowing is if they turned out okay, or if they escalated their crimes. I don't suppose they did escalate, as I'm sure it would have been brought up by now.

I can see how some people might find this story scary, but I actually thought the arsonists voice was nothing more than a teenager trying to sound scary. Especially that laugh!

I can see how some people might find this story scary, but I actually thought the arsonists voice was nothing more than a teenager trying to sound scary. Especially that laugh!

Yeah, that was the vibe I always had too. It probably didn't help that I first saw the story in '94, years after it had been solved. I wonder if it was scary for people who watched it originally and had to go to bed that night knowing that this guy was "still out there".

Watching it now, it's scary to think just how sick this kid was. I see the tape as an unintended cry for help more than anything else.

I saw this story "live" when it originally aired and let me tell you, it terrified me. I thought the arsonist's voice was extremely creepy at the time.

The segment is still unnerving, but when I listen to the voice now, it's more amusing. I wonder if Adam Sandler has seen it because the guy sure sounds like him.

I saw this story "live" when it originally aired and let me tell you, it terrified me. I thought the arsonist's voice was extremely creepy at the time.



Having shared this experience, I can wholeheartedly reiterate this sentiment. I lost more than a few nights' sleep over this case. Watching it now, yes, it is rather silly.

To clarify, I believe that both Stack and Bill Kurtis said that only one of them (Omar) was under 18 at the time. I don't recall what happened to Omar, but the other kid was under psychiatric care for a time.

I saw this story "live" when it originally aired and let me tell you, it terrified me. I thought the arsonist's voice was extremely creepy at the time.

The segment is still unnerving, but when I listen to the voice now, it's more amusing. I wonder if Adam Sandler has seen it because the guy sure sounds like him.



My brother and I were so scared when this came on, I think I actually had to cover my ears when he was talking, but years later i heard it and it was a joke, it sounded like a kid!

I remember seeing this one first-run. So creepy, I was repulsed and intrigued by it.

Having seen the Cold Case Files about it, as well as something else somewhere out there on the web, I was never disturbed by the story behind the perpetrators once it all came out. Wasn't it just a couple of D&D-playing LARPer teenaged types, who didn't want the developments ripping up their forest playground to build houses in the area? Not some drooling, rabid-eyed madmen with plans to murder babies and cook their fat down into candles....

Did this segment inspire the home video made by the Joker in The Dark Knight?

I just watched this case on Cold Case Files (episode name, "Fire Flicks"). When the showed the footage of the arsonist and his friends in their little satanic rituals, I was creeped out even more than what we saw on the UM segment! You could tell the kids were mentally deranged and like the investigators said, needed serious help and not necessarily jail time. Anyone else more disturbed by the CCF showing?

Does anyone have the Cold Case Files episode on tape or disc? I'd like to see it and would gladly work out some kind of a trade. Please PM me if interested.

Does anyone have the Cold Case Files episode on tape or disc? I'd like to see it and would gladly work out some kind of a trade. Please PM me if interested.

PM sent.

A local station where I live runs Cold Case Files every Saturday from like 1-6 in the morning. It's awesome. I've caught this one a few times. The voices on the tape were creepy as all hell!

Some very disturbed people out there.

I local station where I live runs Cold Case Files every Saturday from like 1-6 in the morning. It's awesome. I've caught this one a few times. The voices on the tape were creepy as all hell!

Some very disturbed people out there.

I get excited every time it shows up on Bio or Lifetime, but then it gets pulled shortly thereafter. I've managed to record 4 discs worth, but that's pretty small potatoes. I've had bettter luck with Notorious/American Justice, moving up to 126 episodes currently there, but it could be more if Bio would show some different ones and stop airing the same ones over and over. A 3rd Bill Kurtis show is the Unexplained, which I have 5 discs worth now. Bio shows a single airing a week, Friday afternoons. I also have a few Bill Kurtis specials. Been on a huge Bill Kurtis kick, and am trying to amass everything hosted by him. He also hosts Investigative Reports, but that isn't airing anywhere currently. Would be nice if a channel put it on amongst all the reality crap out there.

The Cold Case Files segment was creepy. I don't remember much about it, but there's one point where he walks around in a devil's mask. That was freaky.

You are lucky to get Cold Case Files where you live, but I suspect you don't live in Lanford. :) Actually, my location is a goof on another sitcom set in Illinois: Married, with Children. Lake Chicamacomico is the fake vacation property Jefferson sells to people. The reality is that it's actually a nuclear waste dump.