Don Decker (The Rainman) Charged With Arson - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 10-19-2012, 08:04 PM

Link

TOBYHANNA — A man accused of setting fire to a restaurant in the Poconos turned himself in at federal court in Wilkes-Barre on Friday.
This is the same man who back in the late 1980s starred in an episode of “Unsolved mysteries,” because of claims he could make it rain, and to this day that case is still a mystery to police in Stroudsburg.
Donald Decker voluntarily turned himself in Friday afternoon in federal court in Wilkes-Barre for setting a restaurant on fire last year in Tobyhanna.
This isn’t the first time Decker has had a run-in with the law.
Back in the 1980s, police in Stroudsburg investigated a bizarre case involving Decker, which remains a mystery to this day.
Donald Decker of Gouldsboro was interviewed on the primetime national show “Unsolved Mysteries” back in the 1980s for being known as “Rainman,” a man who could actually make it rain.
Now, he’s getting attention again, but this time he’s facing federal arson charges for setting Dana`s Restaurant and Tavern in Tobyhanna on fire last year. Investigators said he was hired by the owner to burn down the business.
Back in the early 1980s Donald Decker was known as “Rainman” to Stroud Area Regional Police who said Decker could make it rain.
Detective Richard Wolbert was on the case back then, and said he still can`t explain it.
“Water traveling, flying around the room horizontally,” said Wolbert.
The case grabbed national attention, and Decker`s story appeared on “Unsolved Mysteries” years later.
Wolbert said the call back in the 1980s started off as an investigation into a plumbing problem at a home in Stroudsburg where Decker was staying at the time.
“It definitely wasn’t a plumbing problem. It was just appearing, flying around the room. I was still wearing glasses at the time, and I was getting struck in the face, so it was really strange,” said Wolbert.
Wolbert said it’s a case to this day, he has no explanation for.
“There was something going on in that house. I really don’t know what it was. His explanation is that a relative passed away and that had something to do with it, but that came from him,” said Wolbert.
Decker is free on bail. Officials said it`s because he is not a flight risk.
As for the unsolved mystery involving Decker, Newswatch 16 tried to interview more witnesses, but they turned us down because they said what they saw is too upsetting to talk about.

Blackout · 10-19-2012, 11:00 PM

hope all goes well for him

pardilia · 10-19-2012, 11:54 PM

I wonder how many jokes have been made about the rainman being an arsonist?

Also, I guess the best way to be the center of an "Unsolved Mysteries" is to have your friends just say it was too upsetting to talk about. Debunk that!

Steve W. · 10-20-2012, 04:11 AM

I guess he is multifaceted in his supernatural abilities. I think he was just added to the "X-Men" team.

1990 UM fan · 10-20-2012, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve W.

I guess he is multifaceted in his supernatural abilities. I think he was just added to the "X-Men" team.

RobinW · 10-20-2012, 02:24 PM

I imagine he's going to use the "just testing my abilities" defense in court:

"Come on, I was going to put out the fire by making it rain, I swear."

MegtheEgg86 · 10-20-2012, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobinW

I imagine he's going to use the "just testing my abilities" defense in court:

"Come on, I was going to put out the fire by making it rain, I swear."

I was wondering when someone was going to say that.

PrettyinPink55 · 10-21-2012, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MegtheEgg86

I was wondering when someone was going to say that.

I'm so glad I wasn't the only one thinking it!!!

But Wow!!!

There's an update I didn't expect!!

TracyLynnS · 10-21-2012, 09:52 AM

Tina Resch was on the show because she claimed to have supernatural abilities. She's been in prison for a while because of her part in her young daughter's murder by Tina's boyfriend. And now there's this guy, also on the show because of supposed supernatural ability, accused of committing arson for hire.

I wonder how many other people featured on UM for non-criminal reasons went on to commit serious crimes.

PrettyinPink55 · 10-21-2012, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TracyLynnS

Tina Resch was on the show because she claimed to have supernatural abilities. She's been in prison for a while because of her part in her young daughter's murder by Tina's boyfriend. And now there's this guy, also on the show because of supposed supernatural ability, accused of committing arson for hire.

I wonder how many other people featured on UM for non-criminal reasons went on to commit serious crimes.

Oh wow!!! I heard she had some trouble with the law, but I didn't know it was that bad!!!

RobinW · 10-22-2012, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TracyLynnS

I wonder how many other people featured on UM for non-criminal reasons went on to commit serious crimes.

Let's also not forget Dr. Melvin Morse, who appeared in the UM segment about near-death experiences and has just recently been charged with waterboarding his own daughter:
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...d.php?t=302820

James T · 06-26-2015, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RebZissel

So this Don Decker guy.....was it all a big scam?

The Stroudsburg police seem to agree that something did happen.

Rain? Very strange story.

The guy did have a criminal record before the alleged rain.

http://www.poconorecord.com/article/...News/305260327

Cori aka ChrisSCrush · 09-12-2020, 06:46 AM

Glad to see the irony does not escape unnoticed.

tvscript124 · 05-01-2025, 03:49 PM

While I'm not excusing his arson, I just rewatched this segment and I realized I completely forgot about the sexual abuse by his grandfather. It is no wonder this young man was troubled--that he is apparently troubled to this day. Especially since no one in the family seemed to acknowledge the abuse, and his abilities started after the grandfather died when he was expected to mourn his abuser.

Unlike some of the other cases on UM, there was no possible rational explanation for this. There were no pipes in the area of the house where he was staying. The water was coming out of the walls. Don levitated. There was a smell of death and decay. The priest and the paranormal investigators all thought this was credible. The landlord of the house couldn't explain it either and he didn't look like a New Age-y type. I absolutely believe Don Decker was being influenced by dark forces that came in because of the abuse. What's sad is that he's still troubled to this day. And yes...the irony of "Rainboy" setting fires isn't lost on me.

Mike82 · 11-21-2025, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvscript124

Unlike some of the other cases on UM, there was no possible rational explanation for this. There were no pipes in the area of the house where he was staying. The water was coming out of the walls.

I can't speak to the rest of the segment, but as someone who has done home inspections it's an obvious case of ice damming and if the roof had a membrane that would easily explain why it leaked both in the walls and in the middle of the room. Why didn't anybody ask literally any home inspector or roofer instead of the police??

Having said that, I once had the strangest thing happen I have yet to explain: a few years ago in the dog days of summer, one (and only one) window frame started leaking water down the siding. There was no plumbing nearby, we had gone a long time without rain, and the windows were in good condition and properly installed. Happened for about an hour once and never happened again.

10-19-2012, 08:04 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,349	Don Decker (The Rainman) Charged With Arson Link TOBYHANNA — A man accused of setting fire to a restaurant in the Poconos turned himself in at federal court in Wilkes-Barre on Friday. This is the same man who back in the late 1980s starred in an episode of “Unsolved mysteries,” because of claims he could make it rain, and to this day that case is still a mystery to police in Stroudsburg. Donald Decker voluntarily turned himself in Friday afternoon in federal court in Wilkes-Barre for setting a restaurant on fire last year in Tobyhanna. This isn’t the first time Decker has had a run-in with the law. Back in the 1980s, police in Stroudsburg investigated a bizarre case involving Decker, which remains a mystery to this day. Donald Decker of Gouldsboro was interviewed on the primetime national show “Unsolved Mysteries” back in the 1980s for being known as “Rainman,” a man who could actually make it rain. Now, he’s getting attention again, but this time he’s facing federal arson charges for setting Dana`s Restaurant and Tavern in Tobyhanna on fire last year. Investigators said he was hired by the owner to burn down the business. Back in the early 1980s Donald Decker was known as “Rainman” to Stroud Area Regional Police who said Decker could make it rain. Detective Richard Wolbert was on the case back then, and said he still can`t explain it. “Water traveling, flying around the room horizontally,” said Wolbert. The case grabbed national attention, and Decker`s story appeared on “Unsolved Mysteries” years later. Wolbert said the call back in the 1980s started off as an investigation into a plumbing problem at a home in Stroudsburg where Decker was staying at the time. “It definitely wasn’t a plumbing problem. It was just appearing, flying around the room. I was still wearing glasses at the time, and I was getting struck in the face, so it was really strange,” said Wolbert. Wolbert said it’s a case to this day, he has no explanation for. “There was something going on in that house. I really don’t know what it was. His explanation is that a relative passed away and that had something to do with it, but that came from him,” said Wolbert. Decker is free on bail. Officials said it`s because he is not a flight risk. As for the unsolved mystery involving Decker, Newswatch 16 tried to interview more witnesses, but they turned us down because they said what they saw is too upsetting to talk about.
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

10-19-2012, 11:00 PM	#2
Blackout Sart Bimpson Senior Member Join Date: Jan 13, 2003 Location: where the sun rises Posts: 2,235	hope all goes well for him
	__________________ MOHRIOR

10-19-2012, 11:54 PM	#3
pardilia Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 09, 2007 Posts: 170	I wonder how many jokes have been made about the rainman being an arsonist? Also, I guess the best way to be the center of an "Unsolved Mysteries" is to have your friends just say it was too upsetting to talk about. Debunk that!

10-20-2012, 04:11 AM	#4
Steve W. Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 03, 2010 Posts: 870	I guess he is multifaceted in his supernatural abilities. I think he was just added to the "X-Men" team.

10-20-2012, 02:24 PM	#6
RobinW Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2010 Posts: 1,874	I imagine he's going to use the "just testing my abilities" defense in court: "Come on, I was going to put out the fire by making it rain, I swear."

10-21-2012, 09:52 AM	#9
TracyLynnS Don't Look Up Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 07, 2009 Posts: 3,107	Tina Resch was on the show because she claimed to have supernatural abilities. She's been in prison for a while because of her part in her young daughter's murder by Tina's boyfriend. And now there's this guy, also on the show because of supposed supernatural ability, accused of committing arson for hire. I wonder how many other people featured on UM for non-criminal reasons went on to commit serious crimes.

09-12-2020, 06:46 AM	#13
Cori aka ChrisSCrush Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 30, 2001 Location: USA and still trying to be proud of it! Posts: 2,068	Glad to see the irony does not escape unnoticed.

05-01-2025, 03:49 PM	#14
tvscript124 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 01, 2024 Posts: 513	While I'm not excusing his arson, I just rewatched this segment and I realized I completely forgot about the sexual abuse by his grandfather. It is no wonder this young man was troubled--that he is apparently troubled to this day. Especially since no one in the family seemed to acknowledge the abuse, and his abilities started after the grandfather died when he was expected to mourn his abuser. Unlike some of the other cases on UM, there was no possible rational explanation for this. There were no pipes in the area of the house where he was staying. The water was coming out of the walls. Don levitated. There was a smell of death and decay. The priest and the paranormal investigators all thought this was credible. The landlord of the house couldn't explain it either and he didn't look like a New Age-y type. I absolutely believe Don Decker was being influenced by dark forces that came in because of the abuse. What's sad is that he's still troubled to this day. And yes...the irony of "Rainboy" setting fires isn't lost on me.