Kentucky State Police said a Monday morning fire in Madison County may be connected a recent rash of other arsons and burglaries. Burglarizing homes, then setting them on fire. That’s the M-O in a series of crimes across several Central Kentucky Counties.

The sixth and latest arson-burglary happened in Madison County, on Jacks Creek Road on Monday at around 10 a.m. State police said they think the same person or persons are behind all of them.

“We have seen all of these homes that the arsonists have been burning down. And you think, whose house is going to be next?” said Madonna Barnes, who lives on Jacks Creek Road.

http://liarcatchers.com/arson_investigation.html

As in the other five burglary-arson fires, in Jessamine, Scott, Garrard and Fayette Counties, Kentucky State Police said the same technique was used in Madison County. Someone broke a glass door to get inside, stole items, and instead of just leaving, set the home on fire. Thankfully, in this case, two men working nearby saw the smoke and ran to help.

However, the break-in, theft and fire happened on a weekday, between mid-morning and two in the afternoon in a rural area. Troopers said it’s no coincidence, these criminals are targeting homes when they are empty.

“These kind of people, they wait until you go to work or somewhere else and then they hit you,” said Darrell Wells, who lives nearby.

“It’s frightening,it really is. And for it to be this close to my home, it makes you wonder… who is doing this?” said Barnes.

State Police said the people or person behind the crimes is likely scoping out the homes. Investigators said people should be cautious of any unfamiliar people knocking on their doors, or driving through their neighborhoods.

“I did, in fact, see a silver car, that matches the description with two boys in inside. I can’t identify the driver, but the passenger in the car was staring this way,” said Barnes.

State police said a similar grey or silver Chevy Cobalt could be involved in these fires. Until these destructive burglars are caught, investigators want neighbors to be their eye’s and ears, reporting anything that looks suspicious.

“If they don’t catch up with them, they will do it again somewhere,” said Wells.
The Arson Task Force is offering up to a $1000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible.

KSP Troopers are asking anyone who has seen anything suspicious that could be related to the fires to contact KSP Post 7 at 859-623-2404 or the Arson Task Force at 1-800-27ARSON (1-800-272-7766 FREE).

The investigation is ramping up in the search for a serial arsonist after a sixth fire is being investigated as possibly connected to the others.

Before Monday’s Madison County fire, five homes had been set on fire in four different counties. Most of the homes have been hit between the hours of 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

After working through the weekend, LEX 18 has learned arson investigators from the four counties met this morning to compare notes and try to track down the person they believe has set all five fires.

http://liarcatchers.com/arson_investigation.html

The homes have been located in Lexington, Garrard, Jessamine and Scott Counties. The homeowners were not home at the time the fires were set and all the homes were burglarized.

State Police believe a silver or gray Chevy Cavalier or Cobalt may be involved. Police say they have several suspects in mind but they are trying to build their case. Investigators say this arsonist appears to carefully pick his targets.

Everyone should report suspicious activity such as someone driving around slowly in your neighborhood or a vehicle you don’t recognize.

Firefighters in Madison County were called to a house fire Monday morning. Now an investigator says that this fire is being investigated along with other arsons and burglaries.

The fire happened at 1276 Jacks Creek Road. Two men ran into the house to try and put out the fire with a garden hose until firefighters could arrive. One was a former Madison County firefighter. There is no word on the extent of damage or any injuries. Kentucky State Police confirm that they are sending an arson investigator to the scene.

http://liarcatchers.com/arson_investigation.html

Investigators are saying something looked odd about the entire situation and now they believe it is the sixth fire in a string of arsons that have popped up in the area.

Those other fires occurred in Jessamine, Scott, Garrard and Fayette Counties. Investigators say the fires happen at a similar time of day, usually between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The home is burglarized and then set on fire.

KSP investigators say that the initial investigation indicated that the Madison County home was burglarized as well.

Police believe that a gray or silver Chevy Cobalt could be involved in these fire.

KSP Troopers are asking anyone who has seen anything suspicious that could be related to the fires to contact KSP Post 7 at 859-623-2404 or the Arson Task Force at 1-800-27ARSON (1-800-272-7766 FREE).

The Arson Task Force is offering up to a $1000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible.

Detectives and a medical examiner say a body found on property south of Mack’s Creek belonged to a missing man.

Gregory Webb was reported missing on April 20 after his employer said he had been unable to reach Webb for several days, and it appeared Webb had left the property that he was hired to maintain.

While investigating Webb’s disappearance, the body of a man was found on that property, near the home that Webb occupied. An autopsy found the dead person was a homicide victim but identifying the body took several more days. Investigators say dental records confirmed Webb’s identity.

http://liarcatchers.com/wrongful_death.html

Camden County detectives and Major Case Squad investigators are working the case. They say they haven’t identified suspects.

Detectives are also looking for several missing items taken from the crime scene at the time of the homicide. A mid-’80s John Deere Model 400 lawn tractor and a black 4-foot-by-8-foot Carry-On Trailer with one fender (see photos below) are missing from the property. Several tools, sporting goods and electronic devices are also missing.

Anyone with information related to this investigation can call the Camden County Sheriff’s Department at (573) 346-2243, extension 4253.

Police have charged two juveniles in a shooting that wounded two teens near the route of the Kentucky Derby Festival’s Pegasus Parade.

Louisville Metro Police spokeswoman Alicia Smiley said Friday that both 15-year-old boys are facing two counts each of assault, tampering with evidence, possession of a handgun by a minor and receiving stolen property.

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She said the teens wounded in the Thursday shooting are expected to recover. Police have said the victims are a 17-year-old boy believed to be known by the teens who were apprehended and a 14-year-old girl.

The shooting occurred shortly after 6:30 p.m. Thursday along a main intersection in downtown Louisville that’s along the parade route. The parade began at 5 p.m. and people were standing and sitting about two deep along the route.