Three Clayton County teenagers were arrested late Wednesday and charged with arson for allegedly destroying three historic Morrow homes, according to police.
Two 14-year-old boys and one 15-year-old boy were each charged with arson, burglary, criminal interference with government property, criminal damage to property and criminal trespassing, Morrow’s interim police Chief David Snively said. The boys, whose names were not released, were being held early Thursday at a youth detention center, Snively said in an emailed statement.
“This is a case solved by old-fashioned police work and close community partnerships,” Snively said. “After confirming the fire was arson, investigators from the Morrow Police Department, Morrow Fire Department, and our state and federal partners painstakingly walked the community to meet with witnesses and review digital evidence. Those efforts ultimately led to the arrest of these three offenders.”
Investigators believe the fire was started in one of the homes late Friday and quickly spread to the other two homes. City of Morrow and Clayton County firefighters battled the blaze for several hours.
The Georgia Insurance Fire and Safety Commissioner’s Fire Investigation Unit and the Atlanta office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also assisted in the investigation.
“We are extremely grateful for the support of Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner John King and his Fire Investigation Unit, and for the assistance of the ATF,” Morrow fire Chief Roger Swint said in a statement. “Their close collaboration allowed us to quickly confirm the cause of the fire and narrow the focus of the criminal investigation.”
No injuries were reported. The homes were meant to be converted into commercial spaces in the city’s 16-acre development called The District, formerly known Olde Towne Morrow. Olde Town Morrow was built as a city center before the project was abandoned, and the buildings sat empty for years.
All three homes burned over the weekend were total losses.
Morrow officials had previously offered a reward of up to $10,000 to help find those responsible. Several tipsters provided information for detectives, Snively told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Officers were able to identify the suspects through their police work, he said.
A community prayer vigil is planned for Saturday at 9 a.m. in The District, located at 1065 Olde Towne Morrow Road. Local residents are asked to “gather in solidarity as the city commits to rebuilding the burned buildings,” the city said late Wednesday.
“The tremendous grief suffered by our community since Saturday can be somewhat resolved with the knowledge that the suspects in this case have been identified and apprehended,” Morrow Mayor John Lampl said. “I am extremely proud of the tireless efforts of Morrow police detectives and fire investigators to close this case and begin the process of healing our community.”
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