MS - Jessica Chambers, 19, found burned near her car, Panola County, 6 Dec 2014 - #10

[flatfootjoe]

I agree it isn't impossible or even all that outlandish to consider given the temperature + the season. Space heaters and the like are common even in houses that do have a heating system, because so many buildings in the Deep South are meant to "breathe," not trap heat! The cold is not as extreme in the South but winter bites you harder indoors, as weird as that might sound.

It seems more like a mildly suspicious coincidence, at least to me, due to the overall size of the town + such close timing. I personally believe the two incidents are unrelated, but am willing to be wrong, of course.



Thanks, I was feeling a little manic. WHO DAT! (...Saints training camp is what, 5 months away? Lawdhavemercy.)

The mildly suspicious becomes even more mild when you consider we aren't talking about spontaneously occurring fires. At least one of them was set intentionally. In which case we're talking about one fire, one case of arson.

As you've already mentioned, space heaters are in wide use. If you consider the income level in the area, the prevalence is even more common. You have people running generators to circumvent the electric company, I'm certain you're going to have kerosene and propane heaters for quick alternatives to the other utilities as well.

 

[Mahouston69]

So, we also must consider what may have started the house fire, who started the house fire..is it at all possible she assisted or transported the person(s) carrying accelerant used in both fires? Was she a part of planning her own demise without realizing it?

 

[Mahouston69]

Was the house fire started during the "missing hour"

 

[Foxfire]

Probably totally unrelated to this case, but... I've read that a fair number of arson fires are set by firemen.

<BBM for Focus>
Debirlfan, it does happen, but is very rare. Usually when a firefighter is involved in an arson event, it is for financial gain, imo. Arsonist come from all professions and from all walks of society..

...or is it really the other way round - some sort of pyromania that leads some to become firemen?

The overwhelming majority of Firefighters belong to a brotherhood and would never jeopardize the safety or lives of their brother firefighters..imo

Was the house fire started during the "missing hour"

I would hope that the house fire that preceded JC's car fire would have been ruled out by investigators as suspicious or related. Wish we had more information concerning the house fire. Without specific info; cause/ignition source, time, fire spread/extension, etc., it would be virtually impossible
to come to any rational conclusions, imo. This would be a very good question for Therese Apel, imo.

 

[rbarber17]

One other noteworthy item gleened from the 2006 list of Courtland fires, besides all the mobile home fires. There were lots and lots of brush and/or grass fires, particularly around two holidays (New Years and 4th of July) -- for obvious reasons...

Conclusion: Smokey Bear needs to pay a visit to Panola County, to explain the contrary nature of Mr. Fire to its citizenry.

:newyear:

 

[FelicityLemon]

I find it a little odd that some SM pages of people from Courtland and Batesville which were once wide open are now made private or taken down completely, and I wonder if this means anything.

If those folks had any sense, they'd have locked 'em down from Day One. I just can't imagine being that oblivious in the first place, posting the crap that they post. Narcissism in some cases, lol. Foolishness and carelessness in others.

In the beginning, I noticed that lots of people deleted the time period leading up to and immediately after Jessica's murder.

As time went on and they saw themselves via screenshots on conspiracy nut websites, smart people made their entire accounts private.

 

[New1]

If those folks had any sense, they'd have locked 'em down from Day One. I just can't imagine being that oblivious in the first place, posting the crap that they post. Narcissism in some cases, lol. Foolishness and carelessness in others.

In the beginning, I noticed that lots of people deleted the time period leading up to and immediately after Jessica's murder.

As time went on and they saw themselves via screenshots on conspiracy nut websites, smart people made their entire accounts private.

Well, I don't know about smart, but I am thinking about guilty or scared. If not of committing the murder, at least knowing who did.

 

[MyBelle]

If those folks had any sense, they'd have locked 'em down from Day One. I just can't imagine being that oblivious in the first place, posting the crap that they post. Narcissism in some cases, lol. Foolishness and carelessness in others.

In the beginning, I noticed that lots of people deleted the time period leading up to and immediately after Jessica's murder.

As time went on and they saw themselves via screenshots on conspiracy nut websites, smart people made their entire accounts private.

I think social media is how they communicate. They got the attention they were seeking and I'm betting the feds are following everything they've said.

JMO

 

[Classito]

Debirlfan, it does happen, but is very rare. Usually when a firefighter is involved in an arson event, it is for financial gain, imo. Arsonist come from all professions and from all walks of society..

"...described reasons for fire setting events as anger, revenge, monetary gain, poor judgment while under the influence of alcohol, and for attention (to be a hero)."
http://www.fireengineering.com/articles/2010/07/murphy-firefighter-arsonists.html

The overwhelming majority of Firefighters belong to a brotherhood and would never jeopardize the safety or lives of their brother firefighters..imo

Good thing it is rare and the overwhelming majority do not commit arson...This is just some of the headlines on firefighter arsonist in the last year

http://www.delcotimes.com/general-news/20150123/former-darby-township-firefighter-accused-of-arson-now-charged-with-raping-children

http://www.firerescue1.com/Arson-Investigation/articles/2110326-Minn-volunteer-firefighter-accused-of-arson/

http://www.wmur.com/news/trial-begins-for-former-firefighter-accused-of-arson/30561262

http://www.kcrg.com/subject/news/public-safety/crime/strawberry-point-firefighter-accused-of-arson-insurance-fraud-20140922

http://www.myfoxphilly.com/story/26399037/riverside-firefighter-accused-of-arson

http://www.kfvs12.com/story/15006686/two-cairo-firefighters-accused-of-arson

http://www.wisn.com/news/volunteer-fireman-arrested-accused-of-setting-fires-in-sheboygan-co/27681504

http://fox2now.com/2014/05/09/butler-county-firefighter-accused-of-arson/

http://itawambatimes.com/2015/02/25/three-dorsey-volunteer-firefighters-charged-arson/

http://www.timesleader.com/news/local-news/1280517/Volunteer-firefighter-is-charged-with-arson

http://www.islandpacket.com/2014/11/21/3445135/former-yemassee-fire-department.html


Classito

 

[debirlfan]

I would hope that the house fire that preceded JC's car fire would have been ruled out by investigators as suspicious or related. Wish we had more information concerning the house fire. Without specific info; cause/ignition source, time, fire spread/extension, etc., it would be virtually impossible
to come to any rational conclusions, imo. This would be a very good question for Therese Apel, imo.

Assuming that there actually was another fire and not some other call that the FD responded to (possibly medical), as I see it, there are several possibilities:

The two fires are totally unrelated - pure coincidence.
The house? fire was intentionally set to distract attention from Jessica's murder.
House fire was accidental, but perp used it as convenient distraction.
Jessica was somehow involved (accomplice?) of whoever set the initial fire, who then also killed her.
Jessica was somehow involved in the initial fire, and she was killed in retribution.
(The above are listed in what I'd consider their likelihood, from most probable to least. Does anyone have any other possibilities?)

 

[S2000CR]

A note about that. Most rural areas do not have leaf and brush pickup included with their waste management, and old old habits die hard. They have large areas to rake and bag. They usually have a water hose or two on hand, but it occasionally gets out of hand. They are not pyromaniacs. (Remember the Duck Dynasty episode where one of them was burning leaves in the yard and got the neighbors mad?)

 

[S2000CR]

In addition to my other comment, several years back there were drought conditions with a number of fires in the rural areas in Panola and adjoining counties.

 

[S2000CR]

Of couse they are following everything they say on SM. The private messages and deleted message can be supoenaed by LE.

 

[samantha17]

Assuming that there actually was another fire and not some other call that the FD responded to (possibly medical), as I see it, there are several possibilities:

The two fires are totally unrelated - pure coincidence.
The house? fire was intentionally set to distract attention from Jessica's murder.
House fire was accidental, but perp used it as convenient distraction.
Jessica was somehow involved (accomplice?) of whoever set the initial fire, who then also killed her.
Jessica was somehow involved in the initial fire, and she was killed in retribution.
(The above are listed in what I'd consider their likelihood, from most probable to least. Does anyone have any other possibilities?)

I don't know why some people think the two fires are somehow related ..... it's rural MS, it's Dec, people are using fireplaces and other forms of heat that CAN CAUSE fires ..... sheesh = no mystery.

 

[wfgodot]

Yes, the less time spent assigning the qualities of cunning and craft to the perpetrator(s) of this event, quite possibly the better.

 

[SteveP]

"...described reasons for fire setting events as anger, revenge, monetary gain, poor judgment while under the influence of alcohol, and for attention (to be a hero)."
http://www.fireengineering.com/articles/2010/07/murphy-firefighter-arsonists.html



Good thing it is rare and the overwhelming majority do not commit arson...This is just some of the headlines on firefighter arsonist in the last year

http://www.delcotimes.com/general-news/20150123/former-darby-township-firefighter-accused-of-arson-now-charged-with-raping-children

http://www.firerescue1.com/Arson-Investigation/articles/2110326-Minn-volunteer-firefighter-accused-of-arson/

http://www.wmur.com/news/trial-begins-for-former-firefighter-accused-of-arson/30561262

http://www.kcrg.com/subject/news/public-safety/crime/strawberry-point-firefighter-accused-of-arson-insurance-fraud-20140922

http://www.myfoxphilly.com/story/26399037/riverside-firefighter-accused-of-arson

http://www.kfvs12.com/story/15006686/two-cairo-firefighters-accused-of-arson

http://www.wisn.com/news/volunteer-fireman-arrested-accused-of-setting-fires-in-sheboygan-co/27681504

http://fox2now.com/2014/05/09/butler-county-firefighter-accused-of-arson/

http://itawambatimes.com/2015/02/25/three-dorsey-volunteer-firefighters-charged-arson/

http://www.timesleader.com/news/local-news/1280517/Volunteer-firefighter-is-charged-with-arson

http://www.islandpacket.com/2014/11/21/3445135/former-yemassee-fire-department.html


Classito

Considering the number of firefighters working every day in America, even your post shows how very rare it is for a firefighter to commit arson. Does it ever happen? Sure it does. There are always a few bad apples in any big enough bunch. You can probably google any occupation and get a few hits for arson. Foxfire would never toot his/her own horn, but is a retired firefighter of substantial rank in a major metropolitan department. My niece and nephew are both firefighters in relatively large cities as well. The very vast majority of firefighters are honorable men and women who would think nothing of risking their lives to save yours or mine, and they are heroes in my book. JMO

 

[S2000CR]

I don't know why some people think the two fires are somehow related ..... it's rural MS, it's Dec, people are using fireplaces and other forms of heat that CAN CAUSE fires ..... sheesh = no mystery.

Also around mealtime...kitchen fire was my first thought.

 

[rbarber17]

Yes, the less time spent assigning the qualities of cunning and craft to the perpetrator(s) of this event, quite possibly the better.

Those clumsy rubes sure have the Feds stumped.

 

[Classito]

I don't know why some people think the two fires are somehow related ..... it's rural MS, it's Dec, people are using fireplaces and other forms of heat that CAN CAUSE fires ..... sheesh = no mystery.

Could you link us to proof that it was unrelated or to the 'considered normal' fire rates for the month of Dec in the Courtland area....?

IMO...There is nothing yet that has proved Jessica was even burned at the same time or place the car was...She was found laying by the road...not in the car...

Classito

 

[Classito]

Considering the number of firefighters working every day in America, even your post shows how very rare it is for a firefighter to commit arson. Does it ever happen? Sure it does. There are always a few bad apples in any big enough bunch. You can probably google any occupation and get a few hits for arson. Foxfire would never toot his/her own horn, but is a retired firefighter of substantial rank in a major metropolitan department. My niece and nephew are both firefighters in relatively large cities as well. The very vast majority of firefighters are honorable men and women who would think nothing of risking their lives to save yours or mine, and they are heroes in my book. JMO

Thank you...I kind of figured the defense was due to occupation or spouse of..The list was only a thin slice of the many known and reported in the last year...Of course those not discovered/convicted are not reported and is an unknown...

Although there are no statistics to give a percentage..We do know that 51% is called majority...And we do know it is a big enough problem that Homeland Security issued a report regarding firefighter arson and at least two states have taken steps to try and prevent it...

Classito