Anita Blanton
ACCOMACK COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) - Nearly four dozen arsons have been reported on the Eastern Shore in a matter of three months and officials are aggressively searching for a suspect.
Since November 2012, 44 arsons have been set in Accomack County, with the majority of them destroying abandoned buildings.
State Police say based on evidence that's been collected, there may be several individuals working in connection for the majority of the arsons on the Eastern Shore.
The agency is "aggressively pursuing leads", said Sgt. Michelle Anaya.
“From solid, old-fashioned police work to utilizing the latest in police technology, we have developed several strong leads as to who may very possibly be behind these fires,” Capt. T.A. Reibel, Commander of the BCI Chesapeake Field Office said.
WAVY.com’s Anita Blanton traveled to Accomack County and found that after three months of fires, conversations around a community in fear of the next arson make it clear that rumors are running rampant.
Martha McNair, who's lived in the area for years said, "I feel like it's an inside job. I feel like somebody obviously knows what's going on."
People in the town say their patience is wearing thin. "It's outrageous really somebody should have caught this guy by now," said Jeff Bender.
His wife Erin agreed, "I thought we were done with it and whoever it was had moved on, but I guess that's not the case."
To date there have been 44 arsons on the Eastern Shore since mid-November. "We hear about it the next morning and everybody's like ‘Oh did you hear about the fire happening and this and that’," said
Tony Ramirez who lives next door to one of the burned structures.
WAVY.com also spoke with two residents who lived on property where firefighters battled flames just feet away from their homes. Donald Carroll was in disbelief, "He (a friend) called me and he said have you looked outside? And I said no and I look and see fire trucks and the lights are going on.
Considering what could have happened and what did happen this is some kind of a miracle almost because it should have burned the whole thing down. Sooner or later this man or men or woman or whoever keeps doing this is going to burn something and one of our local firemen is going to get killed."
For those wondering who could be behind it all and why police haven't made an arrest, 10 on Your Side went to two experts for answers, Bernadette Holmes, a criminal justice professor at Norfolk State University and Doctor Velma Bacak, a psychiatrist at Riverside Behavioral Health Center. Dr. Bacak explained, "These are quietly angry people but they don't show it. You see more personality disorders and alcohol abuse. Who knows if this is somebody who does it for thrills or maybe this is about revenge."
Professor Holmes added that these crimes can be extremely hard to investigate. "You're putting together those pieces of the puzzle and there's so much property damage associated with this type of crime that it can take longer to solve," said Holmes.
Investigators have released very little information about any potential leads. "We do believe it’s someone inside the community that's very familiar with Accomack County. Right now any leads that we have are under investigation,” said Sgt. Michelle Anaya, with Virginia State Police.
Professor Holmes says it’s understandable given the nature of the crimes. "Law enforcement has to be very tight-lipped because one misstep, one misstatement could escalate the behavior of the perpetrator or it could give clues," explained Holmes.
State Police say this investigation is extremely challenging, with the large area it covers and the fact that the crime scene is typically compromised by the time they arrive, simply from the fire fight.
"We have stepped up troopers, we have stepped up surveillance, we're bringing in different types of agencies, state, local, and federal agencies. Our utmost priority right now is the security of this community," said Sgt. Anaya.
Right now the main targets for arson in Accomack County have been abandoned or unoccupied buildings, but State Police want people to know how serious this is. According to state law, even burning an unoccupied structure is a Class 4 Felony that carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in jail and a fine of up to $100,000.
Investigators are urging anyone with information to call police. They also want residents to be vigilant especially if you see someone coming in and out at late times at night.
There is currently a reward of $5,000 for information leading to an arrests and conviction.
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