AUTOPSY AND INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS ON THE DEATH OF CHIEF NEGOTIATOR

08/23/02 | Harris County Medical Examiner's Office, Houston Fire Department Fire/Arson Investigations

[COB1]

About three months ago, under the advice of the Texas Attorney General's office, I wrote a registered letter to Joyce M. Carter of the Medical Examiner's Office of Harris County in Houston, Texas, requesting the coroner's report on Herbert Paul Meadows, known to us as CHIEF Negotiator, who died in a fire at his house on October 4, 2001.

That report along with the Houston Fire Department's report on the investigation of that fire has finally arrived.

Without going into the technical aspects of the autopsy report, CHIEF Negotiator's death was ruled as accidental due to smoke inhalation.

NOW FOR THE REST OF THE STORY:

From the Arson Bureau's report:

"The fire originated at floor level approximately 4 feet west of the east wall adjacent to the south wall in the formal dining area. At this point the sheetrock on the south wall shows calcination along the south wall approximately 6 feet in length in the area below the southeast window. This suggests an area of intense burning and high heat.
The wood wall base trim at the area of origin was deeply charred by the fire. A wooden dining set of 4 wooden chairs and a wooden table were almost completely consumed by the fire. Small charred pieces of the table and chairs were all that remained.
The fire was very intense in the dining room area and spread to the adjacent rooms to the east, west and north. These rooms sustained high heat and fire damage from the fire spread. The fire consumed wooden doors separating the dining room from the kitchen and family room. Burn patterns were consistent with a fire moving from the dining room area into the adjacent rooms."

These next pics I took through the window shown by the arrow:

Continuing with the Arson Bureau's report:

"Investigators observed that the north side garage entry door was kicked open and that a partial shoe print was found on the door. This investigator was unable to determine if the door was forced by firefighters or was forced prior to the fire."[italics and bold mine]

------------------------- From the Arson Bureau's report:

-------------------------

"Captain ------ of L-36 told Investigator ------ that he found the deceased Herbert Paul Meadows lying in a fetal position, with his head against the west wall in the bathroom near the den. Firefighters dragged the victim to the driveway where he was pronounced dead by paramedics of Squad 40."

--------------------------

"Engineer ------- of L-36 reported that he observed two tripped electrical breakers when he shut off the electrical power."

-------------------------

Investigator ------- went to St. Lukes Emergency Room to interview --------(Mrs.) Meadows who is the wife of the deceased. --------(Mrs.) Meadows was transported by H.F.D. ambulance after the fire. -------(Mrs.) Meadows was treated for smoke inhalation and had been medicated by the hospital but she was able to relate details of the fire.
(Mrs.) Meadows told investigators that she and her husband Herbert watched a late night T.V. show and then she had went to bed while her husband Herbert had went into the den to work on the computer.
Mrs. Meadows stated that she was in bed about 10 minutes as was not asleep when she heard a 'noise or crash'. Mrs. Meadows said the sound 'was like something going through a window'. These sounds came from the other side of the house where her husband was working. This sound was followed by loud screams. (sic)'Was like something going through a window!' She described the sounds made by her husband as 'like I never heard him scream in my life!'
-----(Mrs.) Meadows reported she ran down the hall toward the dining area and was stopped by the thick black smoke in the kitchen area. ----- (Mrs. Meadows) yelled at her husband and asked him if (sic) see needed to call '911'! (Mrs. Meadows) stated that she heard a 'muffled' 'yes!' and then lost contact with Herbert Meadows. (Mrs. Meadows) told investigator that she smelled a 'bar-b-que' type odor like 'when you light a fire with charcoal lighter fluid'. (Mrs. Meadows) attempted to call for help on a phone in the house but she reported the phone was dead. (sic) Meadows went outside in the front yard and yelled for help.

------------------

From notes of the Harris County Medical Examiner's Office:

"Arson inv. reveals no..(crossed out).. flammable fluids"
"The investigators.. (crossed out).. smelled gas at scene"
"Not sure if they are ruling arson or not"

[dixie sass]

Cob, that's not it and I didn't mean to sound brusque but I am just naturally suspicious when I can't see all a report but just a portion of it. It comes from having a father who was in intelligence, a cop and a insurance investigator/adjuster and a brother whose a cop and having worked for the claims department of an insurance as well as for lawyers.

I am just as anxious as the next person to find out what happened to Herb. You've got to admit that questioning everything is what we are about. We constantly question anything that we don't understand or need more info on. It's is a natural human reponse...

and besides I'm female - and you know what that means...

[MistyCA]

There is a big distinction to be made between fire fighters and fire investigators. They are in no way the same. And this is part of the problem in Houston. The fire fighters are not interested in the preservation of evidence in doing their job. Sometimes their job makes it very difficult for the investigators to do their job. I would imagine that would also be true if the investigators were from the PD. The other problem is that there was a long-term misinterpretation of the law having to do with the investigator's right to attend the autopsy. They asked to be included and were not notified. That is a huge disadvantage! But I will polish at least one button when I say that my probing did alert the investigators to the fact that they could have and should have been included. Maybe things will be better next time around. It seems that rather than check out specific law on the subject, they were following some sort of pathetic long term policy. Fire investigators are very competent and able people. Well, let's say they should be. They are trained to recognize burn patterns, etc, and their job entails some very specific and technical training that would not be within the normal training of a police officer. It would be like having a dentist perform open heart surgery. I know a number of arson investigators and have the highest regard for their expertice.

[COB1]

Okay, I understand.
My emotions are running high tonight.
This is bringing back a lot of bad memories.
I tell you what I will do:
I will scan the report and post it tomorrow in full with all the names blocked out.
I'm not up to it tonight.

[COB1]

"I know a good restaurant near I-10 and Hwy 6 where the four of us could get together..."

Just name your time, old pardner, and I'll be there!
I especially like the part about the "rich lawyer Dog" paying for it!
LOL!

[lewislynn]

AlwaysWatching stated on at least a couple of the threads that the only electricity in the dining room was for the ceiling light.

As strange as that is, it doesn't mean there wasn't wiring, outlets and or switches for the adjoining room(s) in the wall.

It (no outlets in a room?) also suggests cutting corners , or the room was a poorly done addition, shoddy workmanship, etc.

[dixie sass]

Thank you Cob. Hugs and a smooch.

[COB1]

"The goal being to attract the attention of the likely-armed homeowner "

Herb didn't have a gun.
And the person whom I suspect, knew that!

[COB1]

And a goodnight smooch to you, too, dixie.
I'll try to have it up by tenish.

[DeSoto]

Thanks for your assessment. I can easily see the wisdom in having professionals trained in the specifics of fire deaths as well as burn patterns, accelerants and all that stuff. It just seems to me that a great deal of expertise outside those areas of specialty could be added with the inclusion of police detectives anytime there is a suspicious death. Isn't that why all the agencies show up at the scene in the first place?

[lewislynn]

some sicko raped an 18 mo. old the other day...but that's not the topic of this thread, so I'll shut up right now :)

If it happened in California it would have it's own thread AND be on the national news, as would these bureaucratic shenanigans apparently going on in Texas...errr I mean Houston.

[Humidston]

Dog's rich???

I'm so IN!

[COB1]

You know, since this idea came up that a fireman went around the house and opened the back door, I've been trying to remember if there is even a gate on either side of the house!
I don't believe there is!
I know on the side where I took the pic of the backyard there is no gate.
The fireman would have had to go around to the garage side if there is a gate there, and I don't believe there is.
I can't see a fireman jumping that fence in full gear!

[carenot]

Ping BadJoe if you want to. He's a good source.

Good idea.

[Squantos]

So it appears that Herb was firebombed in his den ? (The crash and then the scream)..... Was smoke the only damage to Herbs body or was he visably burned. Was their evidence he was on fire as he entered the small bathroom off the garage ?

Thanks for the update COB1.

Stay Safe !

[lewislynn]

I don't do it that way because there are too many names I've got to block out.

So none of what you're disclosing is public information?

[MistyCA]

Cob, they knew Herb was in there and they were looking for him. They could have easily gone different directions to do that and come across that door after having exited the glass door. The rescue team was in search mode and it makes perfect sense to search. :)

[MistyCA]

LOL! Good point! :)

[COB1]

Here is pictures of both sides of the house.
There is no gate on either side that I can see:

[MistyCA]

Also, I think the gap in the lower picture is the gate.

[Freedom2specul8]

You know what, I was thinking I wrote freepmail badjoe. :( Do you think it matters?