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Millionaire cybersecurity expert missing as Maryland mansion burned to rubble
The Washington Times ^ | January 19, 2015 | Phillip Swarts

Posted on 01/20/2015 8:29:37 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks

An executive at ScienceLogic, a company used to monitor the online networks of the FBI and the Department of Defense, among others, were missing Monday after a four-alarm fire destroyed his 16,000-square-foot Annapolis home.

Don Pyle, the chief operating officer at the Reston-based technology provider, and his wife Sandy, couldn’t be located, authorities said Monday. It took 85 firefighters nearly three-and-a-half hours to get the blaze under control and firefighters had yet to set foot inside the building, uncertain about its integrity, Monday afternoon.

Neighbors told The Washington Times the Pyles’ grandchildren may have been staying with them for the long holiday weekend. Mr. Pyle’s family confirmed they believed six people were unaccounted for, but did not give any indication of ages or whether any of the children were missing. Anne Arundel County Fire Department spokesman Capt. Russ Davies said the family had been to view the scene of the fire Monday morning.

Arson hasn’t been ruled out, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has been called in to investigate.

ScienceLogic has multiple contracts with government agencies, and is best known for its software that scans online networks to ensure they run efficiently. Before joining the firm in October, Mr. Pyle, 55, served as the chief executive officer of several other information technology companies. He was CEO at Netcordia, an IT company the National Security Agency and U.S. Army contracted with to manage their online networks, and Laurel Networks, which specializes in routers for telecommunications clients.

“There was a fire at his home last night and the case is under investigation,” said ScienceLogic representative Yama Habibzai, who declined further comment.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events; US: Maryland
KEYWORDS: annapolis; annearundel; arson; batf; contractor; cybersecurity; donpyle; fire; homefire; isolatedincidents; laurelnetworks; netcordia; nsa; sciencelogic
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Derez’d


81 posted on 01/21/2015 11:22:28 AM PST by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously-you won't live through it anyway-Enjoy Yourself ala Louis Prima)
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To: maggief

Whatever is the case, so horrible about the childen. If an adult family member caused the fire, there can be no possible excuse.


82 posted on 01/21/2015 12:12:16 PM PST by Albion Wilde (It is better to offend a human being than to offend God.)
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To: Albion Wilde

Good question. I have not looked into this story that closely. ... btw good to see you!


83 posted on 01/21/2015 12:44:11 PM PST by TEXOKIE (We must surrender only to our Holy God and never to the evil that has befallen us.)
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To: Albion Wilde

Joining you in condolences for the losses suffered in this family and circle of friends.


84 posted on 01/21/2015 12:46:00 PM PST by TEXOKIE (We must surrender only to our Holy God and never to the evil that has befallen us.)
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To: Albion Wilde

Have they found the body’s yet? Fire so fast and so destructive looks like it was meticulously planned Would they be able to tell if it was a home invasion?


85 posted on 01/21/2015 1:36:20 PM PST by Usagi_yo (It's not possible to give success. Only opportunity. Success is earned on it's own right.)
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To: piasa

No it is not. A latter-day mansion just 10 years old.

Frankly it doesn’t surprise me when these newish and “up to code” things blow fast. Their value is really only skin deep. Paper tigers, gilded not golden.


86 posted on 01/21/2015 1:54:58 PM PST by the OlLine Rebel (Common sense is an uncommon virtue./Federal-run medical care is as good as state-run DMVs.)
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To: Albion Wilde

Yes, middle of the night. As I said, start when everyone is asleep, in a remote part from the sleeping quarters, and it could just get out of control before anyone realizes. Also check out how hidden it can be from other neighboring houses, if certainly not the water because it was right at the point, where small creek feeds into larger.


87 posted on 01/21/2015 1:58:30 PM PST by the OlLine Rebel (Common sense is an uncommon virtue./Federal-run medical care is as good as state-run DMVs.)
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To: maggief

Thanks Maggie, I’ll. Do some digging.


88 posted on 01/21/2015 3:48:29 PM PST by crosslink (Moderates should play in the middle of a busy street)
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To: Usagi_yo

Two bodies were found this afternoon,

http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/27906751/anne-arundel-co-fire-2-bodies-found-at-site-of-annapolis-mansion-fire


89 posted on 01/21/2015 4:03:57 PM PST by Atlantan
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To: yldstrk
They're not missing. They burned to death in the house. Whether there's foul play involved, it's still too early to say.
90 posted on 01/21/2015 4:08:14 PM PST by rabidralph
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To: Atlantan

It’s also tough to get around in a 16,000-sq.ft. house.


91 posted on 01/21/2015 4:12:37 PM PST by rabidralph
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To: Albion Wilde

Thanks for posting that. I gotta say, it seems the house was completely destroyed, so it seems strange to me they would not have found the bodies, I don’t suppose they could have burned up entirely, do you? But it looks like all the furniture and everything else is just.....gone.


92 posted on 01/21/2015 4:28:03 PM PST by jocon307 (Tell it like it is.)
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To: jocon307

From reading the article closely, I believe what happened is that the bodies and lots of debris collapsed into the basement area. That much compacted debris would still be very hot and smoldering in some places and soaked with water in others, with possible live wires or exposed gas lines as first responders got there. These conditions would prevent them from being able to excavate, or even see, any bodies, at least for the first day and a half, if not more. It would require painstaking forensic sifting after it became safe enough to approach. Until a positive ID from bone fragments or DNA, an announcement could not be made by officials, although it looks like family members have made the logical assumption and they told the school and their friends.


93 posted on 01/21/2015 7:24:39 PM PST by Albion Wilde (It is better to offend a human being than to offend God.)
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To: Albion Wilde

“I believe what happened is that the bodies and lots of debris collapsed into the basement area.”

Yes, I was thinking about that too. And you are right, the authorities would not make any speculative remarks about loss of life. Which is good, they shouldn’t.


94 posted on 01/21/2015 8:42:59 PM PST by jocon307 (Tell it like it is.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Another one (who knows too much) bites the dust....


95 posted on 01/21/2015 8:44:29 PM PST by uncitizen (When's the last time you heard: "It's a free country"?)
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Comment #96 Removed by Moderator

To: Yehuda

If the fire was caused by arsonists, they probably came by a boat. Did anyone see a boat nearby in the middle of the night?


97 posted on 01/22/2015 3:26:03 AM PST by Atlantan
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Comment #98 Removed by Moderator

Comment #99 Removed by Moderator

To: Albion Wilde
Was he a friend of John Wheeler?

That's what came to my mind also.

100 posted on 01/22/2015 4:55:00 AM PST by Abby4116
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