After a thorough investigation spanning several years, officials in San Marcos, Texas, have finally named the arson suspect accused of intentionally starting a devastating fire that claimed the lives of five people and displaced hundreds back in 2018.
The fire which occurred on July 20, 2018, engulfed the Iconic Village and Vintage Pads apartments in San Marcos which is home to nearly 70,000 residents and is situated southwest of Austin. (Photo: KXAN)
Arson Suspect in Custody
During a press conference held on Thursday, Jonathan Henderson, Fire Marshal for the San Marcos Fire Department, announced the arrest of Jacob De Leon O Shea Ferguson of Austin.
According to the Associated Press, Ferguson was the prime arson suspect believed to be responsible for the tragic incident. The apprehension took place in the early hours of Wednesday.
At the time of the fire, arson suspect Ferguson was a student enrolled at Texas State University, located in San Marcos, Henderson revealed. The fire which occurred on July 20, 2018, engulfed the Iconic Village and Vintage Pads apartments in San Marcos which is home to nearly 70,000 residents and is situated southwest of Austin.
Henderson clarified that arson suspect Ferguson did not reside in the building where the fire originated, though he declined to disclose the suspect’s place of residence at that time.
Similarly, officials refrained from commenting on any possible motives behind the alleged arson.
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Arson Suspect Faces Arson Charges
The arson suspect Ferguson is currently being held at Hays County Jail on a charge of arson causing bodily injury or death. This offense, classified as a first-degree felony, carries a potential punishment of up to life imprisonment, highlighting the gravity of the alleged crime committed.
As of now, there is no attorney listed for the arson suspect Ferguson in the records of Hays County, where the arrest was made.
The victims’ families, as well as those who sustained injuries in the fire, have been aware since late 2018 that the incident was no accident.
Federal authorities had previously determined that the fire was deliberately set, classifying it as an act of arson. Furthermore, the deaths of the five individuals were officially declared homicides.
Brian Frizzell, who tragically lost his 19-year-old daughter in the fire, expressed gratitude to the authorities for their perseverance in pursuing the case.
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