Unsolved homicide: Police seek serial arsonist

Excerpt

Thick smoke filled Meridian Apartments as dozens of panicked people ran from their homes and firefighters rushed in.
Neighbors pounded on doors while firefighters searched for people trapped inside…

Thick smoke filled Meridian Apartments as dozens of panicked people ran from their homes and firefighters rushed in.

Neighbors pounded on doors while firefighters searched for people trapped inside at 2201 S.W. Sixth Ave.

Dony Ray Ellis, 63, and his wife, Mary Jane, 59, were asleep when the blaze started about 3:30 a.m. April 19, 2007. They died of smoke inhalation. Seven others were injured.

Four years later, authorities continue to search for what they describe as a serial arsonist.

Amarillo Fire Marshal Terry McKinney said investigators think the same person who started the fire in the basement of the apartment complex that dark April morning might have set or tried to set others "within weeks to months prior to the fatal fire."

He said officials were investigating a fire started underneath an apartment door before the Meridian blaze. During the investigation, officials learned someone had unsuccessfully tried to start another fire that went unreported.

"(It) could be a serial arsonist that has started multiple fires," McKinney said.

Amarillo fire and Potter-Randall Special Crimes authorities are investigating.

Initially, investigators had something other than arson to ponder.

"Why had Dony and Mary become (victims) when the (fire was) two floors below?" said Special Crimes Lt. Gary Trupe.

Working with insurance officials, fire investigators and a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent, authorities recreated the blaze, Trupe said.

"The building filled up with very toxic smoke," McKinney said. "It wasn't that the fire spread very far because it didn't."

Trupe said during the test fire, the stairwell acted like a chimney, filtering thick smoke right into the vents of the Ellises' apartment.

"There was no way they could have planned to get somebody on the second floor," Trupe said. "I feel sorry for them (the Ellises)."

Trupe said investigators know where the blaze started and how it was ignited, but he declined to elaborate because of the investigation.

Trupe said investigators think the arsonist might have been a tenant. It's also possible the arsonist could have been watching the havoc from nearby as rescuers rushed to save lives, authorities said.

McKinney said the person who signaled the alarm saw a man coming out of a doorway leading to the basement.

He said authorities would like to speak with anyone who might have seen anyone going in or out of the basement. McKinney also said it's possible the arsonist made threats against the complex or talked about starting a fire beforehand or has since spoken or boasted about it.