Skip to comments.
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
Posted on 08/25/2002 5:31:16 PM PDT by COB1
click here to read article
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-80, 81-100, 101-120 ... 921-925 next last
To: lewislynn
Yes, or someone using aluminum wire for a small electrical job because that's what they happen to have. I believe the code was changed to prohibit aluminum wire in the mid-70's --- but a whole lot of houses were built with it and a whole lot of people didn't really take the warnings seriously.
To: DainBramage
The fire had to burn incredibly fast for the Chief to not be able to make it out. I will admit I know basically nothing about fires, but could any type of non-arson fire cause this?
To: piasa
Swelling and discoloration are consistent with burns...
I understand that discoloration of the skin happens in such circumstances, but the hair itself?
To: COB1
CHIEF NEGOTIATOR was a great poster and FR supporter. May he rest in peace.
84
posted on
08/25/2002 6:58:33 PM PDT
by
dennisw
To: COB1
Thank You Brother for this report.
To: MistyCA
Where do you see that (i.e., specific identification of "gas" as meaning "gasline")? I think arson reports refer to accelerants as accelerants and then go on to identify the partcular type if it can be established (l.e., gasoline, kerosine, etc.). In Houston, natural gas is/was/may be used for stoves, water heaters, air conditioners, clothes dryers, even for yard lamps --- so it would be natural to be on the "lookout" for gas as a cause or contributor to a fire there.
To: COB1
(Sad) BUMP for the Chief. Thank you for the update.
To: COB1
Depending on where the fire had spread, kicking open that garage door would have been a natural thing for the firefighters to do in order to ventilate the house. They would want to move as much smoke as possible in order to see what they were fighting and find victims. I would lean against believing that this door being open is a clue to a crime.
88
posted on
08/25/2002 7:03:59 PM PDT
by
WFTR
To: rwfromkansas
Depends on the fire load, and what type of accelerants in the room that are there naturally, like fingernail polish, alchohol, etc.
If he were in another room with the door closed when it started, then it could have reached flashover point in a few minutes. Then the window breaks out and feeds it plenty of air, he goes running to the room, opens the door and begins to try to put it out and gets his hands burned, then is overcome by smoke. Just one scenario, who knows.
If the investigator used a sniffer in the rooom where the fire originated he would know what and how much accelerant was used if any.
To: COB1
What bothers me is that the fire was so advanced when first observed by the wife. Unless CN feel asleep himself, I don't understand how things could have progressed to the point that he couldn't leave the room before the fire got too big to handle.
Were the phone wires cut? Why was the phone dead, unless the computer was on the only line.
Was there window glass on the inside of the burned room? A burning room would blow the glass out, not in.
Something smells rotten. Gone for only ten minutes, the wife returns to a room filled with fire, a husband beyond help.
Perhaps all this is explainable. Sure raises questions in my mind.
To: COB1; Dog Gone
That just sucks! The whole thing sucks IMO! Now I'm mad all over again!
I still don't think "lighter fluid" is "the answer". That's BS!
I'll go with what Dog Gone stated earlier, Herb was no fool.
To: COB1
It obviously became extremely hot in those rooms very quickly. This wasn't a home with high ceilings, and the heat and smoke would have gotten down to knee or ankle level very quickly.
If Herb thought that he could fight the fire by getting to a water source (the bathroom) he misjudged the seriousness of the situation and was quickly overcome by the smoke and fumes. That's not entirely surprising. His instinct would have been to defend his property from the flames, I think. I would guess that most of those burns on his body came after he was unconcious.
92
posted on
08/25/2002 7:06:06 PM PDT
by
Dog Gone
To: COB1; Snow Bunny; FallGuy; Victoria Delsoul; JohnHuang2; LadyX; coteblanche; WVNan; AntiJen; ...
AUTOPSY AND INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS ON THE DEATH OF CHIEF NEGOTIATOR
FYI PING
To: COB1
Thanks for posting this. There are so many questions, and very few answers. I wish that I could feel that somebody is working on this, but after this length of time, the odds of an arrest are diminishing each day. I hope that I'm wrong and that the police are on the ball, but I fear not.
I think of the Chief often, he was a man worth admiring and there are far too few of those in this world. May God rest his soul and bring peace to his family and friends.
94
posted on
08/25/2002 7:07:12 PM PDT
by
DeSoto
To: WFTR
Also if you look at the drawing, the hoseline came in from the unburned side of the house. If the crew that had opened the garage door had come in there with a line they would have steamed the other crew or visa virsa. It would be hard to tell without being there or interviewing the crews at the fire.
It could be that it was opened during overhaul too, which is after the fire is extinguished.
To: sailor4321
I had on-going communication with the investigators for months. That information and other information was related to me from various sources. I might note that there are inconsistencies throughout and the saying that the left hand didn't know what the right hand was doing relates well to this investigation. Very frustrating!
97
posted on
08/25/2002 7:08:28 PM PDT
by
MistyCA
To: lewislynn; COB1
it's possible it was remodeled or added on to in that time frame... From looking at the floor plan, I would guess the house had been remodeled. The "den" shares a wall with the garage. Possibly the existing garage was turned into the den and a new garage was added.
COB1, thanks for the update. I, too, think often of Chief and pray for his family.
98
posted on
08/25/2002 7:10:13 PM PDT
by
dittomom
To: WFTR
"kicking open that garage door would have been a natural thing for the firefighters to do in order to ventilate the house." Of course!...............BUT:
This investigator was unable to determine if the door was forced by firefighters or was forced prior to the fire."[italics and bold mine]
Don't you think a simple question like, "Hey, guys, did you kick the door open", would have been a natural part of the investigation??!
99
posted on
08/25/2002 7:11:17 PM PDT
by
COB1
To: sailor4321
Let me say two things here.....I really don't want to get back into heavy conversations about this investigation....but natural gas was never discussed as a potential source. Also, the diagram does not comport with the report re location of the body. Doesn't surprise me. There were tests conducted and the propellant used was gasoline as far as I can determine.....petroleum distillate. Disregard any notion of natural gas. :)
100
posted on
08/25/2002 7:12:19 PM PDT
by
MistyCA
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-80, 81-100, 101-120 ... 921-925 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson