Rangers find body of man suspected of igniting Yosemite fire

AP ^ | 10/16/4

[SmithL]

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (AP) --

Park rangers have discovered a body that resembles a man suspected of setting a fire in Yosemite National Park that grew to more than 2,000 acres Saturday night, authorities said.

Rangers in a helicopter spotted the body around 1:30 p.m. Saturday in the Hetch Hetchy basin near Tiltill Valley, less than a quarter mile from where the fire was originally ignited, according to park spokesman Scott Gediman.

The body was sent to a medical examiner, and positive identification was expected Sunday. The cause of death still hasn't been determined, Gediman said.

On Friday, visitors notified authorities they had seen a man lighting fires and brandishing a gun on a hiking trail in the Hetch Hetchy basin. Park rangers spotted the armed man from the air, but decided against actively pursuing him.

The body found Saturday closely matches the description of the suspected arsonist,

[traumer]

Darwin Award candidate...

[cricket]

"The body found Saturday closely matches the description of the suspected arsonist,"

Interesting sentence.

[TADSLOS]

Guess he has all the fire he can handle now.

[martin_fierro]

I suspect he either killed himself, or died due to wounds caused by the fire.

Damn, Bill. CSI got nuthin' on you. < |:)~

[Palladin]

What a way to go!

[T'wit]

Brünnhilde, entering, orders a funeral pyre for Siegfried ("Starke Scheite"). She condemns the gods for their guilt in his death, takes the Ring, and promises it to the Rhinemaidens. Placing it on her finger, she throws a torch onto the pyre and joyfully rushes into the flames. As the river overflows its banks and the Gibichung hall is consumed, the Rhinemaidens, dragging Hagen to his death, regain their gold, at last purified of its curse. Flames engulf Valhalla, leaving a human world redeemed by love.

[cricket]

"Sounds like the guy was a total nut, I suspect he either killed himself, or died due to wounds caused by the fire.

Sounds like he just burned to death. . .Wonder if arsonists ever wonder if their next 'gig' will be there last.

[Thinkin' Gal]

On Friday, visitors notified authorities they had seen a man lighting fires and brandishing a gun on a hiking trail...

Another 'gun violence' statistic!

[MedicalMess]

Maybe it was all done to cover a murder? Maybe the fire lighter is gone and left a body to look like a suicide?

[river rat]

I prefer to believe that a righteous citizen saw the bastard setting fires, and shot his worthless ass.

(Many of us DO carry in Kalifornicate)

Semper Fi

[Walkingfeather]

I was on the valley floor sat, I thought they were burning off the underbrush. Luckily it started raining saturday night about 10 and rained all night and through sunday.

[VadeRetro]

There's another, earlier thread with a later story. The guy killed his wife and two kids before he went into the park, started the fires, then committed suicide.

[TexasCajun]

Boy, what a coincidence!

"Hey I got a dead guy here. You have an open arson case?"
"All done here. Let's go to lunch."

[RGSpincich]

http://cbs5.com/news/local/2004/10/17/Suspect_in_Brentwood_Murders_Committed_Suicide,_Also_Suspected_in_Yosemite_Arson.html