Chapter 4

Berns Triplets  1988  House burned  Mother Patti died from smoke inhalation  Father Scott asleep on couch, awoke, and was able to save triplet girls – but they had third degree burns  Suspicious burn patterns near couch

 Scott indicted  He abused drugs, had shot at wife’s car earlier that day  Difficult to determine events  Jury found there was reasonable doubt  Acquitted

John Orr  1984 (several years)  Several arson fires in CA – one killed 4 people  No clear pattern  Started in LA, moved north to Fresno – where there was a convention of arson investigators  55 suspects  Several years & fires and another convention in LA later

 One suspect – respected arson investigator John Orr  Suffered from hero syndrome  Convicted of 4 murders  Life sentence, no parole

Career  Arson dog handler/trainer