The Deranged Arsonist Who Filmed Their Own Crime • Mystery Files
Summary
TLDRIn the gripping episode of 'Mystery Files', Ryan and Shane delve into the eerie 'House on Fire Tapes', a case involving a disturbing video that leads to a series of arsons in Redwood City. The investigation, initially stumped, takes a turn when the video is aired on 'Unsolved Mysteries', prompting a flood of tips. The case unravels to reveal two teenage suspects, Omar and John, linked to satanic rituals and animal mutilation. Despite the confession and conviction of the duo, the true extent of their crimes remains shrouded in mystery, with the chilling possibility of a darker path they might have taken.
Takeaways
- 🔥 The 'House on Fire Tapes' case involves a mysterious video showing a house on fire and a voice claiming responsibility for the arson.
- 🕵️♂️ The tapes were discovered by Alfonso Lua and his son Hector, who found them alongside a camo jacket with a peculiar patch.
- 🚨 The arson investigator, George Wells, and the California Department of Forestry captain, Frank Curry, were both disturbed by the video's eerie content.
- 🔍 The investigation initially struggled to identify the fire's location, but a task force was formed to solve the mystery.
- 🏠 The fires were linked to a series of arsons in Redwood City, California, targeting large, newly built homes.
- 📽️ The arsonist's video was compared to footage recorded by fire captain John Dellinges, leading to a match with a fire from August 15th, 1988.
- 🎥 The arsonist filmed the fire from a hidden vantage point, undetected by the firefighters at the scene.
- 📞 The case gained worldwide attention after being featured on 'Unsolved Mysteries', leading to numerous tips from the public.
- 👦 A teenager named Omar, who lived in Redwood City, was identified as the person the video was made for.
- 🔍 Further investigation into Omar's friend John's home revealed evidence of satanic rituals and a connection to the arsons.
- 🛠️ John confessed to setting multiple fires, and both he and Omar were found guilty of arson, though the full extent of their involvement remains a mystery.
Q & A
What is the main theme of the 'House on Fire Tapes' mystery?
-The main theme revolves around a series of arsons, with the mysterious 'House on Fire Tapes' being central to the investigation.
Who found the videotape that led to the investigation?
-Alfonso Lua and his son Hector found the videotape near Stockton, California.
What was the significance of the camo jacket found with the videotape?
-The camo jacket had a military-style patch with a key, torch, and lightning bolt, and was found near the tapes, adding to the mystery and possibly linking to the arsonist.
What was the reaction of the authorities when they first saw the tape?
-The authorities, including George Wells and Frank Curry, were disturbed and frightened by the eerie content of the tape, with Curry stating it haunted him.
How did the investigators attempt to identify the location of the fire shown in the tape?
-They analyzed the video for details such as the year mentioned by the arsonist, the commercials, and the fire engines' response, but the low quality and lack of specific details made it challenging.
What was the connection between the arsons in Redwood City and the 'House on Fire Tapes'?
-Woodside Fire Captain John Dellinges linked the tape to a series of arsons in Redwood City, where affluent homes were being built and resentment was high among the local community.
Who was Omar, and how was he connected to the case?
-Omar was a 17-year-old boy from Redwood City who was identified by a caller to 'Unsolved Mysteries' as a person of interest in the case.
What did the investigators find at John's house after it caught fire?
-They found mutilated animal parts, a cutting table, large knives covered in blood, scrapbooks with newspaper clippings about the arsons, and videotapes with satanic messages.
What was the outcome of the investigation into the arsons?
-John confessed to setting the fire on the tape and 14 others, and was linked to the destruction of additional structures and grass fires. He and Omar were found guilty and received appropriate sentences.
Why did the authorities worry about the potential escalation of John's crimes?
-They were concerned because John's progression from arson to possible more violent acts mirrored the path of the 'Son of Sam' killer, who started with fires and escalated to murder.
Outlines
🔥 The House on Fire Tapes Introduction
The script begins with an intense scene setting, introducing the show 'Mystery Files' hosted by Ryan. Ryan plans to discuss the 'House on Fire Tapes' with his colleague, Shane, who is unaware of the case. The tapes involve arson and a mysterious voice claiming responsibility for the fires. The show is sponsored by NordVPN, and the story of Alfonso Lua and his son Hector finding a camo jacket and an unlabeled videotape is introduced, setting the stage for the mystery.
🌳 Redwood City Arson Case
The second paragraph delves into the Redwood City arson case, where Alfonso and Hector found a videotape with disturbing content. The Luas family handed the tape over to authorities, leading to an investigation by George Wells, an arson investigator, and Frank Curry, the captain of the California Department of Forestry. The tape's eerie content and the arsonist's theatrical claims add to the mystery. The investigation reveals a series of arsons in Redwood City, with the arsonist leaving messages like 'Please no more houses!' at the crime scenes.
🔍 The Investigation Continues
The third paragraph continues the investigation into the arsons, with John Dellinges, a fire captain, reviewing his own footage against the arsonist's video. Dellinges discovers the arsonist's vantage point and realizes the audacity of the arsonist's actions. The task force's efforts to solve the case are highlighted, as well as the challenges they face due to the arsonist's cunning and the lack of leads.
🤔 Theories and Confessions
In the fourth paragraph, various theories about the arsonist's identity are discussed, including an upset neighbor, a disgruntled construction worker, or even Satan worshipers. The discovery of a camo jacket with a pentagram and a ceramic skull adds to the complexity of the case. The public is involved in the investigation through the 'Unsolved Mysteries' TV show, which leads to a breakthrough in the case.
🔥 The Arsonist's Identity Revealed
The fifth paragraph reveals the identity of the arsonist as John, a 19-year-old who confesses to setting multiple fires. The investigation uncovers evidence of satanic rituals, mutilated animal parts, and a shrine dedicated to the arsons. The case takes a darker turn as the extent of the damage and the potential for escalation is realized.
🔒 Case Closed
The sixth paragraph concludes the case with John's confession and the arrest of both him and Omar, a 17-year-old boy who was also involved. The case is solved, but the motives behind the arsons remain unclear. The focus shifts to rehabilitation, with both boys receiving appropriate punishment for their actions. The mystery of how the tape ended up near Stockton remains unsolved.
🎬 The Mystery Files Show Wrap-up
The final paragraph wraps up the episode with a humorous discussion about the case's title and the hosts' reflections on the case. They joke about the show's scale model work and end the episode with a Batman reference, signaling the end of the mystery.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Arson
💡Mystery Files
💡House on Fire Tapes
💡Redwood City
💡Omar
💡Satan worshipers
💡Unsolved Mysteries
💡John Dellinges
💡McMansions
💡Satanic messages
Highlights
The "House on Fire Tapes" case is a deep dive into a bizarre arson mystery.
Alfonso Lua and his son Hector found a videotape containing disturbing arson footage.
The tape featured a man gleefully narrating the arson of a house.
The Luas turned the tape over to authorities, leading to an investigation by George Wells, an arson investigator.
The arsonist on the tape claimed the fire took place in 1988, and commercials on the tape seemed to verify this.
The tape's low quality made it impossible to determine the fire department that responded to the scene.
The camo jacket found with the tape had a military-style patch with a key, torch, and lightning bolt.
The arson series in Redwood City, California, was linked to the tape, with 11 houses under construction burned down.
Woodside Fire Captain John Dellinges believed the arsonist was a juvenile with a Robin Hood complex.
The case went cold until the Stockton Arsonist tape was connected to a specific fire in Redwood City.
The arsonist filmed the fire from the bushes, nearly 50 feet behind where Dellinges was filming.
The case was featured on "Unsolved Mysteries," leading to a surge of tips, including one about a teenager named Omar.
Omar knew the arsonist and revealed that his friend John was behind the tape.
John's garage caught fire, leading to the discovery of evidence linking him to the arsons.
John confessed to setting the fire on the tape and 14 others, causing over $2 million in damage.
Both John and Omar were found guilty of arson, with John committed to a state mental hospital and Omar serving time in juvenile hall.
The case file remains sealed due to their minor status at the time of the crimes.
The mystery of the "House on Fire Tapes" is officially considered solved.
The tape and a busted radiator led to the discovery of John before he could harm more people.
The origin of the tape's location near Stockton remains unknown.
Transcripts
(switch flicks)
(intense synth music)
- No more lies.
- No more lies.
- Arson is illegal, and I denounce it unequivocally!
- How did that feel?
How did it feel?
How did it feel?
Welcome to "Mystery Files",
where we take a deep dive into cases that span
from the creepy to the truly bizarre,
and everything in between.
I'm Ryan, and today I'll be forcing my colleague, Shane,
to hear all about the alarming "House on Fire Tapes".
And in the end, you'll have to decide
if the mystery is solved, or if it's simply a mystery.
(mysterious synth music)
(slides clicking)
(mysterious synth music continues)
(slides clicking)
(static whooshes)
You seen about this? You heard about this?
- I have never heard of this, no.
- I start with Jay Leno every time with these.
(Shane mock mumbling)
- The House on Fire Tapes.
Have you heard about this? You seen about this?
No? Anyway...
- House on Fire, no.
Going on context clues...
- Yeah, you could gather a couple key things.
Let's actually test that investigator mind
right at the top here.
- House.
- [Ryan] Yeah.
- Fire.
Tapes.
So, there's a house that's on fire, there are tapes.
- You have aced that test.
I'm very proud of you.
- Is it just tapes of a house burning,
and people being like, "Ah!"
- No, no.
- Okay. I don't want to hear that.
I don't enjoy that sort of thing.
But you're not here to show me snuff films
in the basement, are you? - No, no.
No, I'm here to show you something special
from my own collection.
- Okay.
Oh, another one of your stag films?
- That's right.
Hey, why don't we go ahead and pop it in?
(tape clatters)
(static whooshes)
(calming saxophone music)
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Now, back to the show.
Sorry.
This one's for you, Vinny.
(calming saxophone music)
(mysterious synth music)
As Alfonso Lua's car overheated
on the blistering summer day of August 15th, 1989,
he pulled off of Interstate 205 near Stockton, California.
Alfonso and his son, Hector, examined the car,
but had no luck fixing it.
As they trekked down the road to find a house with a phone,
Alfonso and Hector spotted a camo jacket.
Crudely sewn on was a military style patch
of a key crisscrossing a torch and a lightning bolt.
While examining the jacket,
they found multiple cassettes of heavy metal music,
and an unlabeled videotape.
Before moving on, they took the videotape with them.
When they arrived home,
Alfonso and Hector inserted the VHS into their VCR.
Nothing could have prepared them
for the disturbing images they would see
when they pressed play.
Let's take a look.
- [Speaker] Look at it.
Look at it.
Look at the fire.
This is my domain.
My hell.
Look at it, Omar.
(Shane laughs)
This is what I've been doing on your week's vacation.
(Shane laughs) Look at the flares.
(Shane laughs)
Listen to the coyotes yell.
Take a good look at that,
and you tell me that I cannot set fires.
I gotta go now...
But remember me.
(Ryan laughs) (slide clicks)
- Pretty good.
- So this guy obviously sounds pretty gleeful
when he's setting fire to this house.
And I, curious about the psyche of this man,
wanna get a taste of that euphoria that he's feeling.
So maybe we should go outside and test it for ourselves.
Here we are. - Yup.
- You see a little model?
- [Shane] It's really nice.
- Cul-de-sac here. - Yeah.
- And I'm glad to replicate the euphoria
of setting fire to a building,
so I could understand why that guy was talking that way.
Hold on. It's a little windy out here.
(lighter flicks) (whimsical music)
Okay.
(lighter flicks)
I might need that torch.
(whimsical music continues)
(lighter flicks)
Oh, wait! Shane got it!
How did that feel?
How did it feel?
How did it feel?
- Pretty irresponsible.
- Oh!
- This is not good firemanship, you know?
But there it goes.
- [Ryan] The house is on fire!
- [Speaker] Oh, that's...
- [Speaker 2] Too big?
- [Speaker] Should we...
- [Ryan] Should we probably put that out?
- [Shane] Yeah, you should put it out.
(extinguisher whooshes)
Whoa! (Ryan cackles)
- Well, you know, I consider this a smashing success.
(whimsical music)
So, what'd you think, right?
- It was really fun to use a fire extinguisher.
I've never actually done that.
- Anyways, let's move on.
Believing that the demented voice on the tape
had set the fire,
the Luas turned the video over to the authorities.
George Wells, San Joaquin County Arson Investigator,
said that when he first saw the tape, quote,
"I immediately thought that we were dealing
with somebody that was disturbed."
End quote. (bell dings)
No shit. - [Shane] Yes.
- Yeah, that person is not in their right mind.
- I don't know.
I think we're dealing with just a funny guy.
(Ryan scoffs)
He sounds too funny.
- I can play the tape again for you.
- Could we do it one more time?
- All right. You wanna hear it again.
- [Shane] Yeah.
- [Speaker] Look at it.
Look at the fire.
(unnerving music)
This is my domain.
- That's...
- Yeah, let's invite that guy over to Thanksgiving dinner.
That sounds great.
- "This is my domain, my hell."
- [Ryan] Pass the gravy.
- It's very theatrical, you know?
- I think the fact that you think that says a lot.
(dramatic synth music)
The captain of the California Department of Forestry,
Frank Curry, was haunted by the video.
He said, quote,
"I've never run across anything as eerie as this tape.
It frightened me.
As a matter of fact,
I thought about it that night when I went to bed."
End quote.
(Ryan chuckles) - All right, dude.
(Ryan laughs)
Look at this guy.
Look how scared he looks.
- Oh! Were they able to...
Well, maybe we'll get into this.
Were they able to identify where the burn took place?
- Like where this actually happened?
- Where the video was filmed.
- I mean, yeah, that's kind of what the mystery-
- We're getting into that?
- It's Mystery Files.
- I thought the mystery was, "Who is this?"
I wasn't sure if the mystery was-
- Two-pronged, perhaps.
- So we got a two-pronged mystery?
- That's right.
- Oh, boy.
(Ryan mumbles)
What'd you say?
- Nothin'.
Curry watched the tape hundreds of times,
as they attempted to determine the location of the fire.
Few new details emerged on the tape.
The arsonist claimed that the year was 1988.
Commercials on the tape seemed to verify this.
Fire engines came onto the scene,
so they knew the fire had been reported.
But from where?
- Well, so it's a long tape.
We just saw a little bit of it?
- Saw a little bit.
I mean, we saw the abridged.
We didn't see the director's cut.
The low quality of the video made it impossible
to determine which fire department arrived on the scene.
When a county arson investigator went back
to where the tape was found,
they were shocked to find the camo jacket
exactly where it had been left.
As they examined the jacket for evidence,
they discovered a wooden pestle and a ceramic skull.
- [Shane] Cool.
- Complicating their search,
Highway 205 is near several major highways.
It was possible this tape wasn't from Stockton,
or even California.
It could've been from anywhere in the country.
Just because like it was found in Stockton, California,
doesn't mean it was actually in Stockton, California.
This is on a highway, so it could be, you know,
someone from Louisiana or something like that.
- Mhm.
That's up there by the Bay, huh?
- Yeah, that's the Bay.
- Okay, it seems like a nice part of the state.
- It's where the Zodiac killed a bunch of people.
When it became obvious that the fire on the tape
was not one he had investigated,
George Wells distributed the video statewide.
It made its way to Woodside Fire Captain John Dellinges,
in San Mateo County.
Dellinges was part of a task force investigating
a series of arsons about 80 miles west of Stockton in...
Redwood City, California.
- [Shane] Mm!
- Redwood City had once been a small farming town.
But in 1987, that was changing.
Seemingly overnight, a series of large affluent homes
were built throughout town.
Resentment exploded.
11 fires were set to homes that were under construction.
Seven of them burnt to the ground.
Nobody was hurt,
but there were millions of dollars in damages.
In some of the homes,
graffiti littered the wall with the words,
"Please no more houses!"
And neighbors revolt.
You get that? It was like the Riddler.
- No more lies.
- No more lies.
Woodside Fire Captain John Dellinges
believed whoever was setting the fires
was just getting started.
He explained, quote,
"Experienced arsonists, number one, they don't leave clues.
And there were a lot of things left at the scene
that indicated to us that juveniles were involved."
(bell dings) End quote.
Paranoia set in.
Neighbor was accusing neighbor.
We got ourselves a little bit
of a witch trial brewin' here.
- Yeah.
You're really selling this person to me.
And this person's just going around burning down McMansions?
Nobody's living there?
It's just these big, ugly houses?
- You're a demented man. You know that?
- I mean, nobody's getting hurt.
Except for-
- What year were you born? - Developers.
Uh, '86.
- I could see it.
- I could see it too.
If I were around that area in this time,
I might be doin' this.
- All right.
Kind of incriminating thing to say on camera, but-
- Now I wanna be clear, I don't support ars...
Arson is illegal.
That's an illegal thing to do, to set fire to a place.
I'm just saying...
This has already happened, and I think it's funny
that he burned down a bunch of McMansions.
- Why did you deliver that like there was someone
holding a gun on you off camera.
- I'm just saying...
- "Nobody should commit arson!"
- There's nothing we can do about it.
- No one should do that.
- This has already happened,
and unfortunately, I applaud this person.
- Look, man, just admit you're a sicko.
You got a poster of this guy on your wall.
Arson- - [Ryan] You're like...
"I love this guy!"
- Arson is illegal, and I denounce it...
Unequivocally!
Unilaterally!
- Why are you crossing your fingers?
- I applaud this person. I applaud this person.
(Ryan laughs)
- Well, glad we delivered that very confusing PSA.
Let's proceed forth.
A task force of state and local officials was formed
to put an end to the fires.
But they raged on.
In 1988, four more homes were burnt to the ground.
One home was set ablaze with people inside.
- Can't be doin' that.
- Now this is where you hop off the train.
- That's where I hop off the train, if it's the same person.
But also, maybe they just made a mistake.
- Could you just look at the horror
of this inferno through this window.
I don't know if this- - Fires start fast.
I've watched a lot of videos of fires starting.
- Yeah.
- And it would blow your mind, man.
- I saw "Backdraft" when I was a little kid,
and I realized I was never cut out to be a fireman.
- Yeah, it's scary stuff.
- It looks pretty hot.
Though it is kind of cool to have the big suit on.
I went to a fire department once, and I put like-
- When you're a kid, and they're like,
"You gotta put all this on."
And you're like, "What?'
- "Imagine walking upstairs in this!"
And I'm like, "No, thanks.
I'm gonna make YouTube videos."
- "Surrounded by fire!"
- The smell of smoke woke them up
in time to make it out alive.
Dellinges confessed, quote,
"We kept up the patrols
and the nighttime surveillance work,
but we were still unable to find anybody
that was responsible for setting these fires"
End quote.
By 1990, they had no leads.
The task force dwindled to only a handful of people.
The embers went out.
The case went cold.
Until the Stockton Arsonist tape
came into John Dellinges' hands.
Realizing he had recorded all the fires
for investigation and training purposes,
Dellinges set up two TVs side by side,
and reviewed each tape he had against the arsonist's video.
The House on Fire Tape.
Eventually he came across one that fit.
Here's a screenshot of that side by side.
He's like Morgan Freeman setting up all the TVs in "Batman".
- [Shane] Mhm.
- We're just gonna talk about Batman this entire episode.
- "Everything burns!"
- I think this guy fancies himself
to be somewhat of a Batman.
A Robin Hood complex, if you will.
Burning only rich houses.
- [Shane] Yeah.
- The date of the fire was August 15th, 1988.
Exactly a year before the tape had been found.
By comparing a lamppost, power pole, and trailer,
they verified that this was the fire from the video.
When they returned to investigate the scene of the crime,
Dellinges discovered something
that sent chills up his spine.
You ready for this?
- Ice?
- You've been warned.
You got one. You get one for the episode.
- It's the opposite of fire, would send chills up the spine.
- Yeah, I know.
I was just trying to set up a reveal,
because he discovered something that was like,
"Damn, that's creepy!"
You ready for it? 'Cause...
It's creepy, man!
- Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
(dramatic music) - Get this.
- Okay.
- To get his vantage point,
the arsonist must have shot his video from the bushes
nearly 50 feet behind where Dellinges
was taking his own footage.
He recalled, quote,
"To have somebody who was setting fires
and hiding up in the bushes behind me
filming the same fire that I'm filming,
I've never, ever had this happen to me before."
(Shane laughs) End quote.
Well, no shit.
That would be weird if that had happened
to you multiple times.
I don't know why-
- That hasn't happened to most people.
- Yeah.
But the idea that this person is so confident
in their ability to set this fire and remain undetected...
They're literally squatted behind them, 50 yards back,
just taking footage.
- Well, honestly, it's a...
You know, people are gonna be preoccupied,
trying to put the fire out.
Fires are loud. They demand attention.
If there's ever a time where you're probably okay
to hide out and just enjoy your work,
yeah, that's probably it.
- I don't agree with that logic.
That would be like if you murdered somebody-
- That's why you're not an arsonist, brother.
- Well, yeah.
What a shame.
Apparently you are.
- No, but I could be if I wanted to.
- [Ryan] Well, you're making me wonder.
- Clearly it worked.
Clearly it was a great time to film the fire.
- Well, here's also, like,
I'm gonna break out a human emotions 101 for you,
because I do think this is something you struggle with.
When somebody does something bad...
- Yeah.
- The idea is like, "Oh, crap.
I did something bad, I might get caught.
- Yeah, but this is a sicko.
- But the idea that they're so bold,
that they're gonna sit there,
despite the possibility of getting caught,
is still insane to me.
Have you ever ding-dong ditched someone?
- Yes.
- That scans.
(Ryan laughs)
- You never have?
- No! I haven't!
'Cause I was a good boy.
- I think it's funny.
- [Ryan] No- - I mean, I don't now.
I did as a child.
- But did you run away, or did you sit there and watch?
- We ran away to a spot where we could watch them.
That's the whole point.
- Now I'm understanding your psyche.
- [Shane] Yeah.
- 'Cause if I ding-dong ditched somebody,
I would run away and just keep running.
- The whole point of ding-dong ditching,
you're not like, "Ding-dong!"
(doorbell rings) (Ryan laughs)
And then you run away and go,
"I wonder if anyone ever answered the door."
- That's true.
- No, you're supposed to go hide in a bush and be like...
(Shane laughs)
- That is true. That is true.
- You know?
It's a harmless prank.
- Maybe I just don't have the mind of a sicko.
- Now to be clear, I never did that ding-dong ditch thing
where you put a flaming bag of poo poo on the doorstep.
- That does make me feel like you have done that though.
- No, I've just seen "Billy Madison".
- Dellinges called a meeting of the task force.
It was time to get to the bottom of this.
Which, you know what time it is.
It's quirk board time.
Let's get into those theories.
(bouncy synth music)
All right.
Let's get to the bottom of who the hell started that fire.
Theory one, an upset neighbor.
(mellow synth music)
Any reactions to an upset neighbor, just off the top?
- That scans. Neighbors get upset.
- Yeah.
Within some of the burned down houses,
phrases like, "No new houses!"
Were spray painted onto the walls.
This led authorities to believe that a resident
upset by the new construction was behind the arson.
In the late 80s and early 90s,
Redwood City's per capita income was $20,292.
Nearly 10% of the town lived below the poverty line.
But with the tech boom happening in nearby Silicon Valley,
urban sprawl crept into their rural town.
These new homes were upwards of 6,000 square feet,
costing over $700,009 in 1989.
Burning these homes to the ground
resulted in millions of dollars in losses.
The residents of Redwood City began turning on each other.
Dellinges said, quote,
"Everybody was suspicious of everybody,
And everybody was saying...
"I think my neighbor might be doing this."
- Ah. - End quote.
- What is this goofy smile?
- I think it's funny. I love it.
(Ryan and Shane laughing)
I mean, they're all- - He's an anarchist!
- Well...
I just, you know...
You're gonna move into a town
and build a bunch of big, ugly houses.
- That's true. I don't like-
- Also, like Silicon Valley?
What? We're rooting for them?
- [Ryan] No. - Burn all their houses down!
- I just don't wanna root for people
to have their homes burned down.
You know? That's just me.
- I agree to some extent.
- Okay.
While many believed the construction was the motive,
some believed it was an inside job.
Which brings us to the second theory.
Theory two.
A disgruntled construction worker.
(mysterious synth music)
(Ryan moans)
- Ooh!
- On the video, one name is repeated multiple times.
- Omar.
Omar comin'. - You got it.
You nailed it, you fuckin'- - [Shane] Omar comin'!
- My hands are little sweaty from the...
This. - Jesus.
- Well, I'm grippin' this.
- Yeah, you really are.
- I'm really grippin' it.
Officers knew finding Omar was the key
to this investigation.
But who was he?
Captain Curry theorized!
Who's our favorite captain, 'cause he has such a fun name.
- Wait, have we met him?
- He's the guy who was frightened-
- [Shane] Terrified?
- Couldn't go to sleep after watching it 100 times.
- Couldn't kiss his wife.
(Ryan chuckles)
- Captain Curry theorized, quote,
"Is Omar the construction person
that maybe hired this person and fired him,
and made that a revenge motive for the fire?"
End quote. (bell dings)
With the police knowing that the arsonist
had slipped through their fingers,
as he filmed from behind them,
this would explain how the arsonist
was able to do so and easily avoid capture.
He knew the ins and outs of the location
due to working on the buildings!
- Yeah. - Of course.
- Yeah.
- Whether he was an accomplice or a victim,
the police knew they needed to find Omar.
They had a dangerous individual on their hands,
but they feared that even darker forces could be at play.
Theory three, Satan worshipers.
(intense synth music) Ooh!
(board clatters) - [Shane] Yeah, yeah.
- But before we get into that theory,
why don't we jog our memories with this?
- [Speaker] Look at it.
Look at it.
Look at the fire.
This is my domain.
My hell.
Look at it, Omar.
(Speaker chuckles)
This is what I've been doing on your week's vacation.
Look at the flames
Listen to the coyotes yell.
- Yeah. (Ryan howls)
- [Speaker] Take a good look at that,
and you tell me that I cannot set fires.
I gotta go now.
(Ryan and Shane laughing)
But remember me.
- That part's my favorite part.
- You don't think this is an incredibly funny person?
- Oh, I think it's super funny.
- Okay.
- Especially that last part.
- "I gotta go now."
- "I gotta go now." (laughs)
"I gotta go now, my mom's calling me."
From the first moment they watched the tape,
people feared they could be dealing with a Satan worshiper.
This spark of an idea was fanned
when they uncovered the camo jacket,
with a ceramic skull and pestle found nearby.
The patch in the jacket matched no known military emblem,
but was contained inside a burnt orange pentagram.
Investigators claimed the kind of pestle discovered
was used to grind herbs
said to be used in occult ceremonies.
Could the fires be some kind of ritual,
an attempted sacrifice to Satan?
They needed to put an end to this reign of terror
before this person's crimes escalated to violence.
Which is often the case with arsony.
- Does that happen?
- [Ryan] Yes. - Wow, didn't know that.
- So now that we've kind of laid out
the lay of the land here,
what are you feeling?
Upset neighbor, disgruntled construction worker,
or we have over here Satan worshipers?
- I think maybe a combo of one and two.
About Omar though, they never found Omar?
- Well, I'm gonna ask you about this first,
and then maybe we'll talk about it.
- I would guess two, with one being a close second.
I would say if the police were any good at their jobs,
they would be able to probably look at the staff
or crew that was working on that.
Find out if there was an employee named Omar.
- [Ryan] Yeah.
- And especially if Omar took a week's vacation.
- [Ryan] Yeah.
- Pretty easy to figure that out.
- You would think that.
And that's good process on your part.
- [Shane] Yeah.
- So just to be clear, you're saying two and then one,
with a close second one?
- I would say probably two,
because Omar does sound like maybe
referring to taking a week off.
That makes it sound like they're coworkers.
- I've seen you've been scribblin' away there.
Anything of note?
(Shane exhales) - I wrote-
- [Ryan] Something noteworthy in your notes?
- "1989, Alfonso, son is Hector,
found funny tape, guy doing funny bit,
Joker-fied stuff 100%, video is of house on fire.
Burning down McMansions.
Nice. (wondrous music)
Omar, Redwood City, tech boom."
- I'm sure you could make sense of all that.
Well, let's see how close you were with your guess.
(tense piano music)
With a depleted task force and no solid leads,
they reached out to the public.
Somebody out there knew Omar.
If they could find Omar, they could find the arsonist.
So they turned to "Unsolved Mysteries".
The legendary television program hosted by Robert Stack,
aired the story on September 19th, 1990,
bringing worldwide attention to the case.
You've seen this show, obviously.
- Robert Stack.
- That's right. - Yup.
- Minutes after the episode ended,
the phones started to ring off the hook.
They received 1,800 phone calls from Canada, Australia,
and throughout the US.
One of those callers was Doris Lance of Redwood City.
Across the street from her lived a 17-year-old boy
that she believed would be of interest to them.
His name was Omar.
- "Omar".
- Investigators approached the teenager,
who initially claimed to not know anything about the fires.
But when he was brought in to the police station
for questioning, that story changed.
The teenager claimed to have seen the tape
for the first time on "Unsolved Mysteries"
like everybody else.
But when he saw it, he knew he was the Omar
the video was seemingly made for.
- That's exciting.
- All right! We're gettin' somewhere now.
- I like it.
- This case-
- I'm excited to know what this person is like.
- Would you say this case is pickin' up...
Heat?
- Yeah.
Well, yeah.
Steam, heat.
Sure, sure. Heat.
Yeah, gettin' hotter.
Less of a cold case by the minute.
You know? - It's a hot case.
- [Shane] It's a hot case.
- I can't even touch it.
Ow! Geez, it's hot! - Ah, don't touch that case!
- Put that case in the oven.
- [Shane] Yeah.
- Omar knew that he was the Omar mentioned in the video,
but who was behind the tape?
Who's the person speaking?
Omar claimed it was his 19-year-old friend, John.
- John.
- While they had John's house under surveillance,
John's garage caught fire.
As fire captain, this gave Dellinges
the opportunity to investigate.
What they found disturbed them.
Mutilated animal parts- - [Shane] Uh oh.
- [Ryan] From what appeared to be sacrifices.
A cutting table.
- [Shane] Ew!
- [Ryan] And large knives covered in blood.
(Shane gags)
Scrapbooks of newspaper clippings about the arsons.
- [Shane] Ew!
- [Ryan] Multiple videotapes,
some with news coverage on the fires.
- [Shane] Sure.
- [Ryan] Others with short films
which were focused on satanic messages.
- [Shane] Yeah.
- So just a little recap...
You whiffed it, buddy.
You whiffed it.
- It was number three.
- It was one of the two that you didn't say.
- Yeah.
- Are you still a fan of this guy?
- I mean, outside of the animal stuff...
Yeah.
- You're down with the satanic messages and the-
- I mean, I don't give a shit if someone worships Satan.
Like, that doesn't make them a bad person.
- What about them putting up a shrine
of themselves about the arsons?
- I mean, they're proud of the work they've done, I get it.
- Yeah, that's true.
I guess be proud of your work.
I mean, I could probably do a better job at that.
- The animal parts...
Look, that, of course, don't harm animals.
- You could of course see how this is
just one stepping stone along a road
that's going to lead someplace much worse than this.
- I guess, yeah.
- Also really funny that the only reason
they were able to go and search his house,
was because his own house caught on fire.
- Not great. - [Ryan] Pretty funny.
- Not great at what he was doing.
- Don't even need a warrant.
- Yeah. - Your house is on fire.
- Yeah.
- All right, let's move forward here.
On September 27th, 1990,
John was brought to the police station.
Between tears...
(Ryan chuckles)
He cried.
(Ryan laughs)
I always get amused by criminals that cry
when they're like, realizing what they have done.
- Yeah.
- [Ryan] It brings me great joy.
- Sure.
You know, I think all be all criminals
should be brought to justice.
- [Ryan] Indeed.
- Yeah, their emotions, you know...
That's between them and God.
- I'm a fan of justice.
- [Shane] Yeah.
- I'm glad he cried. - Vigilante.
- That's right.
- You're out there in the streets.
People don't know this, he's out there in the streets.
- I am out...
You're not supposed to-
- He's out there in the streets.
You've probably met Ryan Bergara before.
Anytime you feel a chill in the night, that's him.
- We were under agreement that that would remain private.
- He watches you from the shadows.
- Between tears, he gave his confession.
Not only did he set the fire on the tape, but 14 others.
He was linked to the destruction
of 11 additional structures,
and 15 grass fires between 1987 and 1988.
- Real firebug.
- I'm responsible for some grass fires myself.
(Ryan and Shane laughing)
Smokin' weed.
- Yeah.
(person exhales) (Ryan clears throat)
The damage...
(Ryan laughs)
The damage he caused totaled more than $2 million.
When asked about the case, a police spokesman said, quote,
"There's no motive.
We don't know if there are other suspects involved or not."
End quote.
- Despite his confession,
he pleaded guilty to only a single count.
In February, 1991, Omar was also found guilty
on one count of arson in connection
with a January 1989 house fire in Redwood City.
Notably, the house was located
close to the one that was on the tape.
The rest of the fires technically
remain a mystery to this day.
Recalling that the Son of Sam
had escalated from lighting 2,000 fires,
to murdering six people,
the authorities were worried
that they were headed down a similar path.
- That guy was a...
He was an arsonist?
- Yeah. - 2,000 fires?
- Yeah. - That's a-
- Well, you gotta think about it.
If a fire gives you some sort of like, weird, perverse joy-
- Yeah.
- [Ryan] Then eventually- - Destruction.
- That's gonna run out.
- [Shane] Yeah. - And you're like...
"All right, what's gonna light my candle now?"
- Right.
Jesus, dude. - [Ryan] You know?
This is what the-
- What you said, it sounded really creepy.
- This is why...
These people are creeps. - Yeah, well-
- Apparently your hero.
- I didn't say he was my hero.
- In so many words.
Deciding to focus on rehabilitation instead of retribution,
Omar served time in juvenile hall,
while John was committed to a state mental hospital.
- What did Omar do?
- You need to pal to do weird things.
- [Shane] Yeah, I guess-
- I mean, you and I should know that better
than anyone else.
- You need a pal to do weird things.
- Due to them being minors at the time of the crimes,
the case file is sealed to this day.
Well, so, it appears we've cracked this one, baby.
- Just a couple of kids having fun,
lighting McMansions on fire.
- Well, not quite havin' fun.
- You know, they accidentally did a floopser,
when they maybe lit one on fire that some people were in.
Don't do that.
Don't go lightin' anything on fire, okay?
- Well, the-
- Don't mutilate animals.
- I was just about to say, people having some fun,
doing millions of dollars of property damage.
A bucket list for Shane, essentially.
- You know what you light on fire?
An Apple Store.
- Can I say that?
- I don't think you could say that.
But I can say that you shouldn't say that,
so that way we could keep it in.
- That's the kind of thing that I would say
if I were irresponsible,
and I don't suggest you do that.
Don't light an Apple Store on fire.
- Just diggin' deeper and deeper,
that's you with a shovel right here.
Just, whoop.
- I said not to.
(Ryan laughs)
- But then you said to.
- No, I said not to.
- I could clip it.
I could clip it. - Don't do it.
- How the jacket with the tape ended up near Stockton
is still unknown.
However, if it weren't for this tape and a busted radiator,
John may have never been found,
allowing him to follow the deadly path
other arsonists blazed before him.
Instead, he was found before
he could harm another human being.
And we could officially consider this mystery...
Solved.
- My biggest critique here, after hearing all this-
- [Ryan] Yeah.
- Get a better name.
The "House on Fire Tapes?"
- It's pretty good.
- It's not.
- I mean, I think it's pretty good.
I was intrigued by this case name, just by the case name.
- "House on Fire Tapes".
- [Ryan] I thought-
- "The Hellfire Tapes".
You know? Something like that.
- That actually is pretty good.
- "This is my hell."
- Hey, look, I'm not titling these, okay?
- It's also confusing, 'cause he is a Satan guy,
but he's like, "This is my hell."
You should be lovin' it.
Maybe it was a positive thing.
- Yeah, the way he said it-
- "This is my hell."
- He wasn't saying like, "Aw, this is my hell!"
He was saying it like, "Oh, now this is my hell."
- Yeah.
All right, well...
I guess it's solved.
- Another solved case.
Hey, we're solving them like hotcakes.
We're not solving them personally,
but we're relaying the info from people who solved them,
so therefore, we're kind of like solving them.
- Yeah. We're doing God's work.
- We are.
- One last good Batman reference to close it out.
Ryan, take it away.
(mellow mysterious music)
- Well, I don't have-
- What does he say? What does he say?
- What is- - He's Batman, he'll say...
(Shane grunts)
- "Oh, I can't go, not really.
Not yet.
(Shane grunts)
This town just proved to you that it's full of people
willing to believe in good."
- "Some men just"-
- Oh, that's good.
- "Some men just want to watch the world burn.
I was in Burma."
(Ryan laughs)
- Hey, that's good. That's a good Caine.
- "I was in Burma."
All right.
See you next week, everybody.
- Yeah, yeah, let's get outta here.
(Ryan laughs)
- Who would've thought that we would have
scale model work on "Mystery Files"?
Eat your heart out, James Cameron.
- [Shane] Oh, was that like an exact replica
of the houses that were burning in the video?
- [Ryan] No, of course not. But it looked like a house.
(mellow mysterious music fades)
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