Juveniles, in the past, have been charged with the misdemeanor malicious mischief, but this has changed in recent. He killed ada deal, 50, her 2yearold grandson, matthew troidl, carolyn kraus, 26, and jimmy cetina, 17 in a fire at a hardware store, and is suspected by the fbi of setting more than 2000 fires before he was caught. John orrs american fire journal writings, 1987 to 1989. Chief arson investigator in california town was also the man. Exfireman john leonard orrs book about serial arsonist led. Sep 19, 2000 diary of a serial arsonist the lost clue sep 19, 2000 46m 41s tv14 v a highlyregarded california arson investigator is suspected of setting a series of fires, and a man is convicted of raping and murdering his 68yearold neighbor and stealing her coke bottle and rare coin collections. A german national named harry burkhart lit 52 fires in three nights in. He was convicted of serial arson and four counts of murder. John orr april 26, 1949 is a former fire captain turned arsonist. Join the investigation as lead character, arson investigator phil langtry, searches every clue to uncover a serial arsonist. Watch diary of a serial arsonist the lost clue full episode.
John leonard orr born april 26, is an american former firefighter and novelist. John orr running head john orr arsonist 1 john orr. The arsonists modus operandi in the manuscript is strikingly similar to the modus operandi of the actual arsonist. The irony is that the firebug john orr was someone entrusted to protect the public against fire. Read by ken howard fire lover is the incredible true story of john orr who. This is the story of perhaps the most prolific firebug in the history of the united states, john leonard orr, who is now serving a life sentence without possibility of parole, in the u. Here are 10 famous arsonists and why they made it on the list. This book is a barely fictionalized autobiography of arsonist and murderer john orr. What makes this even more shocking is that john orr was a fire captain and arson investigator for the glendale california fire department. He may have been the worst serial arsonist in us history. John leonard orr born april 26, 1949 is a convicted serial arsonist who was once a fire captain and arson.
In 1990, during the worst fire in glendales history, some noted that orr s behavior seemed very peculiar. Laurianne sconce, the matriarch of the lamb funeral home, whose trial that was the subject of the book ashes, by james joseph. John orr john orr was a former fire captain and arson investigator for the glendale fire department in southern california, and to much surprise, a serial arsonist. Orr had originally wanted to be a police officer, but had failed the. John orr the pillow pyro fire captain on a fire spree.
Orrs book points of origin orr is currently serving his life sentence at california state prison. Writings in the american fire journal of former glendale, california fire chief, arson investigator, and convicted arsonist john leonard orr, 1987 to 1989. I have read and reread john orrs book on what happened during the investigation and trial and while there was a fair amount of circumstantial evidence, there. Jan 24, 2020 a serial arsonist is setting fires throughout the west and is quite possibly a firefighter. John leonard orr is a convicted serial arsonist who was once a fire captain and arson investigator for the glendale fire department in southern california. John orr, a former glendale arson investigator, was uncannily close at hand when fires broke out in southern california in the 1980s. In 1990, during the worst fire in glendales history, some noted that orrs behavior seemed very peculiar. Orr was the fire captain and arson investigator for the glendale fire department in southern california.
The area was being terrorized at the time by the socalled pillow pyro, an arsonist who sometimes targeted linen shops. The signature gadget would convince arson investigators that they were dealing with a serial arsonist out of controland eventually convince a. Juveniles, in the past, have been charged with the misdemeanor malicious mischief, but this has changed in recent times. In glendale, california, john orr was a 17year firefighting veteran who received national acclaim for his investigative work. John orr arsonist 2 john leonard orr is a former fire captain and arson investigator at the glendale fire department in california who was convicted of serial arson. John leonard orr is a serial arsonist and mass murderer. The narrative includes a scene of a firea fire that bore several striking similarities to the reallife 1984 blaze in south pasadena. Glendale fire department serial arsonist john leonard orr, a former fire. A california arson investigator was regarded as a sage. In points of truth he describes his formative years in 195060s lost angeles, his highly successful career, wrongful arrest, conviction, and. Exfireman serial arsonists unpublished book leads to own arrest for murder. A true story and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Orr john orr, former fire captain and highly respected lead arson investigator of the glendale fire department, california, has written numerous articles and short stories on fire investigations. In truecrimenovel form, the story of john orr, glendale, california, fire investigator turned serial arsonist.
But arson investigator john orr insisted that the fire was deliberately set. In early may of this year, i found a radio tracking device attached to my car in san luis obispo while i attended a training conference. Revelations of the most prolific serial arsonist of the 20th century. Very good nonfiction book about a despicable man, john orr. The series has been going on for over five years and i was even considered a suspect at one point. An episode of the pbs science series nova titled hunt for the serial arsonist aired november 14, 1995 chronicled the story of john orr. Playing with fire paperback july 5, 2001 by john l.
After his arrest in 1991 and subsequent conviction for a series of other arson fires not related to the 1984 oles fire, orr was charged with arson in the blaze by investigators due to a forensic reevaluation of the causes of. The arsonist s modus operandi in the manuscript is strikingly similar to the modus operandi of the actual arsonist. California is no stranger to fires, but a string of blazes set in the 1980s and early90s left authorities searching for a skilled arsonist who was right under their noses. Orr had originally wanted to be a police officer, but had failed his entrance exam. As can be understood from the joseph wambaugh book fire lover, this book is essentially a journal of the pyromaniac and murderer, john orr.
Im in court right now on the hollywood serial arsonist case from new years 2011 and 2012. Over time, i read my dads novel and the joseph wambaugh book fire. John leonard orr born april 26, 1949 is a convicted serial arsonist who was. John leonard orrs unpublished book, points of origin. Lori orr kovach, daughter of serial arsonist and murderer john orr, who was. Exfireman john leonard orrs book about serial arsonist. By some estimates, this onetime chief arson investigator for the glendale fire department. Chief gray mike camello furthermore, orr wrote a novel titled points of origin about a serial arsonist that happens to be a fireman. Wambaughs meticulous research, along with interviews, case records, and thousands of pages of court transcripts, creates a powerful narrative.
Serial arsonist and fire captain john leonard orr killed four. The author, a veteran arson explosives investigator of the glendale ca fire and police departments, is now frequently referred to as the most prolific serial arsonist of the 20th century. Like most psychopaths, john orr is brought down by his own words and actions. Married five times, orr secretly craved the attention of others. Incredibly, he was a captain with the glendale fire departments arson unit at the time of his arrest. Exfireman john leonard orrs book about serial arsonist led to. Orr was eventually caught, convicted, and is currently serving a life sentence in prison. The exfire captain and serial arsonist who secretly carried out his own arson spree he was the most prolific american arsonist of the twentieth century.
After his arrest in 1991 and subsequent conviction for a series of other arson fires not related to the 1984 oles fire, orr was charged with arson in the blaze by investigators due to a forensic reevaluation of the. In this factbased film, a serial arsonist has been setting fires in california, and an intense investigation is undertaken to find him. Arson investigators believe the book chronicles real acts of arson due to. Diary of a serial arsonist the lost clue sep 19, 2000 46m 41s tv14 v a highlyregarded california arson investigator is suspected of setting a series of fires, and a man is convicted of raping and murdering his 68yearold neighbor and stealing her coke bottle and rare coin collections. During his career, he represented numerous high profile clients, including john orr, the greatest serial arsonist in american history, a trial memorialized in fire lover, by joseph wambaugh. My firefighter father john orr got sexual thrills from his murderous. My father john orr got sexual thrills from his murderous arson. The connections and circumstantial evidence held ground, however. John leonard orr is the most prolific serial arsonist in californias history.
He was known for setting a series of arson fires that lasted from the mid 1980s to the early 1990s. Playing with fire written by former fire captain john l. The area was being terrorized at the time by the socalled pillow pyro. Orr s partner, keith lang john alberto leguizamo, is appointed to a commission investigating the incidents. Serial arsonist plays cat and mouse with authorities.
Sep 25, 2019 in todays episode of unmasking a murderer, we explore the case of john leonard, an arsonist and a murderer who was also a fire captain and pretend hero. Orr had originally wanted to be a police officer, but had failed the entrance exam. Penitentiary at lompoc, california, where in due time he. Firefighter and arson investigator john orr of californias glendale fire. A serial arsonist is setting fires throughout the west and is quite possibly a firefighter. He killed ada deal, 50, her 2yearold grandson, matthew troidl, carolyn kraus, 26, and jimmy cetina, 17 in a fire at a hardware store, and is suspected by the fbi of. John orr ray liotta, a highly respected arson investigator whose marriage to wanda bai ling is on the rocks, is called in to help. In fact, orr even penned a novel, points of origin, which follows an arson investigator who suspects a serial arsonist may be operating within his own ranks. He worked as both a fire captain and arson investigator for the glendale fire department in southern california. Aug 23, 2002 the signature gadget would convince arson investigators that they were dealing with a serial arsonist out of controland eventually convince a jury that john orr was guilty of murder.
An arsonist, as the name suggests, is a person who commits arson. Aug 05, 2019 orr insisted that the manuscript was fiction, and in 1991, he wrote a letter to a literary agency described it as a factbased work that follows the pattern of an actual arsonist that has been setting serial fires in california over the past eight years, according to ap news. He had a sixth sense for tracking pyros, but there was one serial arsonist, responsible for the deaths of four, who remained elusive. Orr trained at least 1,200 firefighters and solved many arson investigations. Wambaughs meticulous research, along with interviews, case records, and thousands of pages of court. Orrs partner, keith lang john alberto leguizamo, is appointed to a commission investigating the incidents.
The aspiring writer writes a novel about an arson investigator who is also an arsonist. John leonard orr was also a novelist and wroteyou guessed itabout an arsonist he named aaron styles. On the 10th of october 1984 in south pasadena, california usa this man set a fire in a retail store, during business hours, that killed innocent men, women, and children. When an arsonist sets multiple fires in multiple locations with a coolingoff period between the incidents, it is called serial arsonist. Orr insisted that the manuscript was fiction, and in 1991, he wrote a letter to a literary agency described it as a factbased work that follows the pattern of an actual arsonist that has been setting serial fires in california over the past eight years, according to ap news. John leonard orr murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers. Orr liked to set fires in the back of occupied businesses using a signature timedelay device consisting of a cigarette, matches, a rubber band, and a piece of paper. From 1984 to 1991, an arsonist known as the pillow pyro ignited approximately 2,000 fires across southern california. John leonard orr born april 26, 1949 is an american former firefighter, novelist, and convicted arsonist. Revelations of the most prolific serial arsonist of the 20th century orr, john l. The novel reads like a diary of the california arsons. Orr was the chief arson investigator in the glendale fire department who was charged with five counts of arson and three counts of attempted arson. It includes a arsonist act of a large hardware store that killed a toddler and his grandmother.
60 1376 495 938 445 1507 795 1541 1179 1347 1029 539 404 228 346 532 1132 773 1608 99 293 821 1171 1135 958 154 260 861 1495 1415 214 432 1208 1262 1 658