Weekend arson probably not related to other recent arsons, investigators say

An arson fire that did extensive damage to a home on Chesley Drive doesn't appear to be connected to a string of arsons in central Cape Girardeau, including one that killed a man on April 29.

A dedicated arson squad with members from the Cape Girardeau Police Department, the Cape Girardeau Fire Department and the Missouri Fire Marshal's Office was working Monday on an investigation of the Chesley Drive fire, fire chief Rick Ennis said. That team, activated along with the Major Case Squad following the death of George E. Robinson, has included as many as 20 investigators.

"There are some similarities" between the central Cape Girardeau fires and the Saturday night blaze, Ennis said. "But the similarities at this time seem more coincidental. We just really don't think this is related to the others."

The Saturday night fire was reported about 10 p.m. The home at 402 Chesley Drive, near the intersection of Chesley Drive and Bloomfield Road, suffered extensive damage from fire, smoke and water. When firefighters arrived, they battled flames that had been set in several different locations of the house, including the living room, attic and basement.

On Monday, investigators followed up their initial inquiry with witness interviews, packaging evidence for analysis and evaluation of possible leads, said Sgt. Barry Hovis, a spokesman for the police department.

"We don't want to rule that out," Hovis said when asked if the fire was related to previous arson fires. "But there are things that occurred at this particular scene that did not occur at the others."

Hovis declined to elaborate.

The fire became the 10th suspicious structure fire in Cape Girardeau this year, but it is the first reported arson since April 29, when Robinson died of smoke inhalation in his apartment at 203 S. Pacific St.

The fires under investigation include two others reported April 29, at 1015 Bloomfield St. and 511 S. Ellis St., as well as two the previous week on North Frederick Street and North Middle Street and one at 517 S. Benton St. Earlier suspicious fires were in the same general area near Morgan Oak Street and Ellis Street.

Firefighters have also responded to, and police are investigating, what appear to be deliberately set fires involving portable toilets in several locations around the city.

Most of the arson fires at residences targeted homes that were either uninhabited or where the residents were not at home. Robinson's death is the only reported injury associated with the fires.

The investigations have led police to question various "persons of interest," Hovis said, but not enough evidence has been developed to charge anyone.

Stopping a determined arsonist can be difficult, Ennis said. The best defense is to remain observant, keeping an eye on vacant buildings in the neighborhood and reporting things or people who act suspicious or who seem out of place, he said.