Talking Arsonist - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

greatgarrett2 · 02-12-2006, 10:37 PM

Greetings,

I just wanted to know if anyone has any info on the case of the arsonist out West who set fires, then videotaped them using fiirst person narration?

Who was he and did they ever catch him?

I remember seeing that case when I was a kid and have been thinking about it the last few days.

Cheers,

greatgarrett2

"This is hell, MY hell! hahahahahahahaha"

Awsi Dooger · 02-12-2006, 10:45 PM

I saved this old article from someplace on the internet, perhaps this forum although I'm not sure. Cold Case Files also did a very good segment on this story:

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (UPI) -- Police arrested two teenagers Friday
accused of setting a house aflame and making a videotape of the
raging fire narrated by a whispering and maniacally laughing arsonist.

Police spokesman Howard Baker said one of the youths, now 19, confessed
to sparking the 1988 fire and filming the chilling tape.

Detectives linked the teenager to the torching of 11 other structures
and ignition of 15 grass fires in a series of arson blazes that
scorched parts of Redwood City and San Mateo County south of San
Francisco in 1987 and 1988, Baker said. Four of the structure fires
caused more than $2 million in damage.

"There's no motive," Baker said. "We don't know if there are other
suspects involved or not."

Police arrested the two males early Friday on suspicion of arson
for starting the Aug. 15, 1988 videotaped fire that burned to the
ground an unfinished house under construction on Colton Court in
Redwood City.

A 17-year-old boy was released to the custody of his parents. The 19-
year-old was confined at juvenile hall pending a judge's decision on
whether he would be tried as a juvenile or adult, Baker said.

Investigators got 1,600 calls and possible leads from people across the
nation after the videotape was shown on the national television program
"Unsolved Mysteries."

Investigators were given the tape after a family whose car had broken
down found it wrapped in an old military fatigue jacket beside Highway
205 near Stockton, Calif. in August 1989.

The tape shows flames consuming a house at night as an eerie voice
whispers, "Ancient spirit of evil. Look at it. The fire department
is trying to put it out. What a laugh."

The unseen narrator, breathing heavily and laughing, spoke to someone
named "Omar." Some investigators thought it could be a reference to
Satan.

"Look at it Omar ... this is what I've been doing all week's vacation ...
I said I'll do it, I said I'll do it."

Along with the videotape and jacket, the family found a skull, a pestle
used to crush herbs, and other evidence suggesting satanic [sic] rituals
and worship."

crystaldawn · 02-12-2006, 10:47 PM

Look at it Omar.......

As hilarious as the narrating is I can't help but getting a little creeped out at the tone that guy uses. I also read in an article considering the arsonist that police believe the Omar that he kept referring to was a friend of the arsonist but had no involvement in the crime.

PrettyinPink55 · 02-12-2006, 10:49 PM

That case totally creeped me out!!!!!! Especially the narration!!!

greatgarrett2 · 02-12-2006, 11:07 PM

Awsi,

Thanks.....I didn't think it was someone that young, since I thought it was an older man's voice....that reference to Satan I find intriguing.......

Cheers,

greatgarrett2

DarkDante · 02-13-2006, 12:45 AM

I think someone once posted that there was another profile of this case (not UM) and they showed additional footage of this looney toon running around his house holding satanic rituals dressed up in various masks. I could be wrong about this but I think I remember someone mentioning this around a year ago on these forums.

justins5256 · 02-13-2006, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkDante

I think someone once posted that there was another profile of this case (not UM) and they showed additional footage of this looney toon running around his house holding satanic rituals dressed up in various masks. I could be wrong about this but I think I remember something mentioning this around a year ago on these forums.

It was probably me. I'm not sure if I have it on tape anymore, but I did see a brief segement on the arsonist on one of those trashy home video shows (maybe on Fox). They showed some footage from the infamous tape, which included some shots that were not shown on UM, as well as footage of the kids running around wearing Halloween masks, and playing with fire.

compulsive dvd · 02-13-2006, 07:10 PM

I have that segment on my desktop from echoes of fear. People at work probably think i'm insane if they open it up. I always wanted mug shots of the accused. I love how they threw in that they also found heavy metal cassettes.

LooksLikeCRicci · 02-14-2006, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by compulsive dvd

I have that segment on my desktop from echoes of fear. People at work probably think i'm insane if they open it up. I always wanted mug shots of the accused. I love how they threw in that they also found heavy metal cassettes.

Well... heavy metal IS the music of the devil, you know...

nohwheregirl · 02-14-2006, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justins5256

It was probably me. I'm not sure if I have it on tape anymore, but I did see a brief segement on the arsonist on one of those trashy home video shows (maybe on Fox). They showed some footage from the infamous tape, which included some shots that were not shown on UM, as well as footage of the kids running around wearing Halloween masks, and playing with fire.

They showed this footage on Cold Case Files.

justins5256 · 02-14-2006, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nohwheregirl

They showed this footage on Cold Case Files.

That is not the broadcast I was referring to.

CODIS · 02-23-2006, 02:39 PM

I think that this might have been shown on "the new detectives" or "the investigators" can't be sure which.

Awsi Dooger · 02-24-2006, 10:53 PM

I distinctly remember it from Cold Case Files, as nohwheregirl mentioned. They showed the creepy home footage in the dark basement, wearing costumes and making chants.

Jason K · 08-10-2010, 01:47 AM

I find the additional footage from RealTV on YouTube (not sure if it's okay to link that or not...it's pretty easy to find anyway). I'd love to see the mask footage.

Do you guys know which episode of Cold Case Files this was?

Orange_Sody_84 · 08-10-2010, 12:51 PM

Definately a popular case for sure. this segment always used to creep me out. of course it took the mystery out of it when the two JD's were caught. I had never heard about footage of them running around in masks. not sure if I'd want to watch that.

02-12-2006, 10:37 PM	#1
greatgarrett2 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 11, 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 544	Talking Arsonist Greetings, I just wanted to know if anyone has any info on the case of the arsonist out West who set fires, then videotaped them using fiirst person narration? Who was he and did they ever catch him? I remember seeing that case when I was a kid and have been thinking about it the last few days. Cheers, greatgarrett2 "This is hell, MY hell! hahahahahahahaha"

02-12-2006, 10:45 PM	#2
Awsi Dooger Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 18, 2003 Location: Miami Posts: 1,537	Solved I saved this old article from someplace on the internet, perhaps this forum although I'm not sure. Cold Case Files also did a very good segment on this story: REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (UPI) -- Police arrested two teenagers Friday accused of setting a house aflame and making a videotape of the raging fire narrated by a whispering and maniacally laughing arsonist. Police spokesman Howard Baker said one of the youths, now 19, confessed to sparking the 1988 fire and filming the chilling tape. Detectives linked the teenager to the torching of 11 other structures and ignition of 15 grass fires in a series of arson blazes that scorched parts of Redwood City and San Mateo County south of San Francisco in 1987 and 1988, Baker said. Four of the structure fires caused more than $2 million in damage. "There's no motive," Baker said. "We don't know if there are other suspects involved or not." Police arrested the two males early Friday on suspicion of arson for starting the Aug. 15, 1988 videotaped fire that burned to the ground an unfinished house under construction on Colton Court in Redwood City. A 17-year-old boy was released to the custody of his parents. The 19- year-old was confined at juvenile hall pending a judge's decision on whether he would be tried as a juvenile or adult, Baker said. Investigators got 1,600 calls and possible leads from people across the nation after the videotape was shown on the national television program "Unsolved Mysteries." Investigators were given the tape after a family whose car had broken down found it wrapped in an old military fatigue jacket beside Highway 205 near Stockton, Calif. in August 1989. The tape shows flames consuming a house at night as an eerie voice whispers, "Ancient spirit of evil. Look at it. The fire department is trying to put it out. What a laugh." The unseen narrator, breathing heavily and laughing, spoke to someone named "Omar." Some investigators thought it could be a reference to Satan. "Look at it Omar ... this is what I've been doing all week's vacation ... I said I'll do it, I said I'll do it." Along with the videotape and jacket, the family found a skull, a pestle used to crush herbs, and other evidence suggesting satanic [sic] rituals and worship."

02-12-2006, 10:49 PM	#4
PrettyinPink55 Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 11, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 24,601	That case totally creeped me out!!!!!! Especially the narration!!!
	__________________ ♥♥♥

02-13-2006, 12:45 AM	#6
DarkDante Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 27, 2002 Posts: 1,569	I think someone once posted that there was another profile of this case (not UM) and they showed additional footage of this looney toon running around his house holding satanic rituals dressed up in various masks. I could be wrong about this but I think I remember someone mentioning this around a year ago on these forums.
	Last edited by DarkDante; 02-13-2006 at 07:14 PM.

02-12-2006, 10:47 PM	#3
crystaldawn Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 17, 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,261	Look at it Omar....... As hilarious as the narrating is I can't help but getting a little creeped out at the tone that guy uses. I also read in an article considering the arsonist that police believe the Omar that he kept referring to was a friend of the arsonist but had no involvement in the crime.

02-12-2006, 11:07 PM	#5
greatgarrett2 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 11, 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 544	Awsi, Thanks.....I didn't think it was someone that young, since I thought it was an older man's voice....that reference to Satan I find intriguing....... Cheers, greatgarrett2

02-13-2006, 07:10 PM	#8
compulsive dvd Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 27, 2005 Posts: 184	I have that segment on my desktop from echoes of fear. People at work probably think i'm insane if they open it up. I always wanted mug shots of the accused. I love how they threw in that they also found heavy metal cassettes.

02-23-2006, 02:39 PM	#12
CODIS Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 02, 2005 Posts: 58	I think that this might have been shown on "the new detectives" or "the investigators" can't be sure which.

02-24-2006, 10:53 PM	#13
Awsi Dooger Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 18, 2003 Location: Miami Posts: 1,537	I distinctly remember it from Cold Case Files, as nohwheregirl mentioned. They showed the creepy home footage in the dark basement, wearing costumes and making chants.

08-10-2010, 01:47 AM	#14
Jason K Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 05, 2010 Posts: 59	I find the additional footage from RealTV on YouTube (not sure if it's okay to link that or not...it's pretty easy to find anyway). I'd love to see the mask footage. Do you guys know which episode of Cold Case Files this was?

08-10-2010, 12:51 PM	#15
Orange_Sody_84 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 05, 2010 Location: Myrtle Beach Posts: 234	Definately a popular case for sure. this segment always used to creep me out. of course it took the mystery out of it when the two JD's were caught. I had never heard about footage of them running around in masks. not sure if I'd want to watch that.