The MAIAAI is proud to annouce the June 2019 seminar. Information about the seminar topic, speaker, costs, lodging and registration is listed below. Itinerary and sponsor info will soon follow.

-MAIAAI

MAIAAI June 2019 Seminar

Criminal Investigation of a Serial Arson

This years topic will be presented by Special Agent Scott Fulkerson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

In June, 2003, the Prince George’s County Fire Investigations Unit and the District of Columbia’s Fire Investigation Unit began noticing a series of incendiary fires being set on front porches of single family residences in their respective jurisdictions.  A request was made for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to analyze the evidence and assist in the investigation.  An analysis of the evidence revealed that an arsonist was utilizing an incendiary device consisting of a one gallon plastic jug, cloth wick, a plastic bag and gasoline as an accelerant.  Investigators also concluded that the incendiary device was being placed on front or rear porches of occupied residences while the occupants were sleeping.  As a result the Serial Arson Task Force was formed consisting of all the major police and fire departments within the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area. 

From June, 2003 to April, 2005, the Serial Arson Task Force investigated over fifty (50) fires throughout the region.  DNA was collected from four (4) of those scenes.  Over one thousand (1000) leads and thirteen hundred (1300) suspects were investigated.  In April, 2005, Thomas Anthony Sweatt was developed as a suspect and his DNA was collected and positively matched to the four (4) fire scenes.  On April 27, 2005, Thomas Sweatt was arrested and subsequently confessed to being the Serial Arsonist.  On June, 6, 2005, Thomas Sweatt plead guilty to setting (50) fires in the Metropolitan area killing two (2) people in the District of Columbia.  Since the time of the arrest, Thomas Sweatt has been debriefed by Task Force members and has provided that he was responsible for setting 350 fires over a 27 year period and for committing 4 homicides in the D.C., Maryland, Virginia region.    

The Maryland, D.C., Virginia Serial Arson Task Force consisted of the following agencies:  ATF Maryland, ATF D.C., Prince George’s County Fire Investigations, Prince George’s County Police Department, Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office, Maryland State Police, Metropolitan D.C. Police Department, D.C. Fire Investigations Unit, Montgomery County Fire Investigation Unit, Montgomery County Police Department, Fairfax County Fire Marshal’s Office, Alexandria City Fire Marshal’s Office, Howard County Police Department, Howard County Fire Investigations Unit, Baltimore City Fire Investigation Unit, Anne Arundel County Fire Marshal’s Office.

Date:

Wednesday, June 5th through Friday, June 7th

Location:
Red Jacket Beach Resort
1 South Shore Dr.
South Yarmouth, MA 02664

MAIAAI Group Room Rate:
$139/night + tax

Group MAIAAI # 627403

1-(800)-672-0500

Deadline is May, 4th