CASES OF ARSON AND FIRE

The Himatangi Murders

 Our Lady Of The Angels School Fire

One of the most tragic fires of all time took place at Our Lady of the Angels School in
Chicago on December 1, 1958. Sometime that afternoon, a fire started in a cardboard
trash barrel at the bottom of the northeast stairwell. The fire burned undetected for at
least half an hour and the heat eventually became so intense that it shattered a nearby
window. This gave the fire a new oxygen supply and caused it to spread. Once the fire
was discovered, an attempt was made to evacuate the school, but the flames spread too
quickly and all the students and teaching nuns on the second floor had their only escape
route cut off. They were forced to seek shelter in their classrooms and wait for the fire
department to rescue them through the second-story windows. A total of 92 students
and three nuns would lose their lives.Some burnt matches were found in one of the
schools chapels, giving credence to the theory that this was arson. In 1962, a 13-year-
old boy suspected of numerous fires in his neighborhood drew the attention of the
authorities. This boy was a fifth-grade student at Our Lady of the Angels in 1958 and he
would go on to confess to being responsible for the school fire. The boy had been
excused from class to use the bathroom at approximately the same time the fire is
believed to have started in the trash barrel, and he provided enough details about the
fire to convince authorities. However, the boy eventually recanted his statements,
claiming he had been coerced into signing his confession, so there was never enough
evidence to pursue criminal charges against him. Officially, the cause of the fire at Our
Lady of the Angels is still listed as undetermined.

One of the most horrific unsolved crimes in the history of New Zealand took place in
Himatangi, a small settlement near the town of Foxton. A 47-year-old farmer named
Thomas Wright lived in a small farmhouse with his wife, Katherine, and his four children,
Joyce, Brian, Aileen, and Prudence. The property was owned by 62-year-old John Brown
Westlake, and a young farmhand named Samuel Hewitt Thompson also lived there. In
September 1929, they would all wind up dead after the farmhouse burned to the ground.
When the authorities arrived, Westlakes charred body was found near the doorway, but
the remains of the other victims were scattered all over the place. Foul play and arson
were suspected once an adult male skull fragment was found with a bullet hole in it.A
shotgun belonging to Westlake was found among the debris, but could not be positively
identified as the murder weapon. Thomas Wright had suffered from financial troubles in
the years preceding the fire and was forced to move his family onto Westlakes property
to work as a share-milker. Since Westlake was known as a bit of a taskmaster, it was
speculated that Thomas might have murdered him and everyone else before starting the
fire and turning the gun on himself. However, the position of the bullet hole in the skull
fragment made it impossible for it to have been a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The
problem was that it could not be conclusively determined whether the skull fragment
actually belonged to Thomas Wright or Samuel Hewitt Thompson. Even though an
extensive investigation was conducted by the authorities, there was very little evidence
to work with and no other potential suspects were identified, so this case is destined to
forever remain a baffling unsolved mystery.

3. On the evening of June 21, 1962, firefighters arrived at a burning home in

Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. They found the unconscious body of 22-year-old Christine
Maps and her four-month-old daughter, Julie, who had died of smoke inhalation. Christine
also appeared to be suffering from severe head injuries after being struck by a blunt
instrument, and she died at the hospital a few hours later. Conspicuously absent from the
scene was her 39-year-old husband, Edward Maps. This was clearly a case of arson, as
the oven had been set to 450 degrees and the door left open before the fire was started.
Even though Edwards two vehicles had been left behind, he became the prime suspect
in the murders of his family.

Maps was a prominent figure in the Pennsylvania art world, but had always suffered from
mental issues. The crime was particularly baffling since the Maps family had visited a
neighbor less than two hours before the fire and appeared to be in good spirits.
Nevertheless, Edward Maps was added to the FBIs Ten Most Wanted List, and there were
several unofficial sightings of him over the years.

However, in 1967, the Monroe County district attorney requested that Maps be removed
from the list. He was legally declared dead in 1971 and his entire file was reportedly
destroyed by the FBI. No explanation was ever given for any of these actions. Two days
after the fire, an acquaintance allegedly received a phone call from Maps, where he
implied that his father-in-law, Robert Wolbach, was the real culprit. Wolbach supposedly
despised Maps, and there were some discrepancies with his alibi on the night of the
crime. However, Edward Maps was never found, so the full truth behind the murders
remains murky.
The Disappearance Of Edward Maps
Toxicity from Hair Dye
In the next case, Alaine, Iddir, Choukr, et al, of the Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire de Bab-el-Oued in Algeria reported
on 20 cases of poisoning by a chemical known as paraphenylenediamine or PPD (J ToxClinTox 2002;40(3):341).
PPD is commonly found in hair dyes sold in the U.S. so these cases are important for U.S. emergency physicians to
understand.

The investigators said PPD-containing hair dyes have become prevalent in North Africa. They collected a number of
cases involving ingestion of these hair dyes and reported a substantial number of patients who developed
respiratory failure secondary to upper airway obstruction. Other patients developed myoglobinuria, myalgias,
vomiting, and macroglossia. Many of these findings are related to the potentially caustic nature of PPD although the
precise mechanism of injury in these cases is unclear.

Next time you are in a pharmacy, check out some of the hair coloring products, and see how many contain
paraphenylenediamine. There are indeed several over-the-counter products that contain this potentially dangerous
material. Perhaps the most troublesome aspect of PPD is the potential for promoting the development of various
cancers following prolonged use of PPD-containing hair dyes. PPD is of such health concern that its use has
currently been banned in Europe. Nonetheless, it is available in the U.S., and emergency physicians need to be alert
to possible ingestions involving this substance.

Toxic Herbal Ingestions

In another report originating from the Netherlands, Wijnands-Kleukers, et al, reported on eight cases of adverse
health effects, including seizures, in individuals who had consumed herbal tea that eventually was shown to contain
anisatine (J ToxClinTox 2002;40(3):263). Anisatine is a non-competitive GABA antagonist. The authors pointed out
that in the past in Mexico, newborns with apparent abdominal cramps had been given herbal tea containing star
anise. These babies suffered tonic clonic seizures.

There are two valuable lessons here. First, so many people are currently using herbal medications and herbal
products that an herbal history is absolutely essential to be elicited from all emergency department patients. Given
the mobility of the U.S. population, its increasing ethnic heterogeneity, and its access to the Internet, any individual
may be taking one or more herbals that could contain any one of a number of previously reported potentially
dangerous substances.

Emergency physicians practicing in and near areas proximate to the Mexican border (and elsewhere) might well
remember this case the next time they see unexplained seizures. The use of herbals is now quite common, and all
emergency physicians should be encouraged to include an herbal history for each and every patient seen in the
emergency department.

Amanita Mushroom Poisoning

One area that the European toxicologists seem to have vastly more experience than their American counterparts is
with the treatment of severe mushroom poisoning. This may be because many more people in European nations
forage for mushrooms as a hobby and as a practical means for obtaining specific mushrooms for food.

One of the most problematic areas when confronted with a severely intoxicated individual who has ingested the
dreaded species of mushroom known as Amanita is when to send the patient for liver transplant. Ganzert and
Felgenhauer from the TechnischeUniversitatMunchen in Germany addressed the development of criteria for liver
transplantation in the face of severe Amanita intoxication (J ToxClinTox 2002;40(3):300).

These investigators looked at 140 cases involving Amanita ingestion, and compared 33 severe cases with 20 fatal
cases. The authors point out that if the serum creatinine remains elevated above 1.2 mg/dl after the second post-
ingestion day, the chance that the patient would die was substantial. Their conclusion was that whenever the serum
creatinine is below 1.2 mg/dl after day two following ingestion and the thromboplastin time remains greater than 35%
past the fifth day, no liver transplant is required. These authors suggest that all other patients must be sent to a
transplant center for evaluation.

Emergency physicians must be able to identify potentially life-threatening mushroom ingestions. They must be on
the lookout for patients who may have ingested Amanita species, one of the most serious possible mushroom
ingestions. If these ingestions are identified in the emergency department, emergency physicians must know which
patients might be early candidates for transfer to a transplant center for possible liver replacement.

CASES OF TOXICOLOGY
Amanita Mushroom Poisoning
Toxic Herbal Ingestion
Toxicity from Hair Dye
 CASES OF DRUGS
Possession of Dangerous Drugs
Possession with Intent to Supply Drugs
Cultivation of Drugs
Cause: The Henderson, Nevada rocket fuel (ammonium percolate) plant explosion in the above video registered 3.5
on the Richter scale and was felt 600 miles away. The explosion decimated the $100 million plant, which made
rocket fuel for the US space shuttle program. At the time of the event, the space shuttle program was on hold due to
the Challenger disaster two years earlier. But work at the Henderson plant continued apace and eventually the plant
ran out of containers. In building new storage containers, welders are believed to have ignited existing drums of
ammonium percolate. The site was filled with many sealed bins, some stacked on top of others, covering an area the
size of a football field. Once the first explosion occurred, a chain reaction soon followed

, Dec 13, 1998 Downtown Blast St Cloud Times 7A JI - i. Uack Fox, chief investigator for the National
Transpora-ftion Safety Board, and five other investigators, inspected the blast scene looking for what caused
the accident M . , - .- tar TIMES PHOTOS BY MIKE KNAAK . . ... .. The National Transportation Safety Board is
in charge of the investigation of Friday's downtown St. Cloud explosion. The NTSB has sent six investigators,
led by Jack Fox. The agency is responsible fa investigating pipeline accidents because pipelines are
considered a form of transportation. Officials can respond to any pipeline explosion where there is a safety
concern, but normally show up when there are deaths or high-dollar damage estimates

Vehicles typically dont go up in flames, explained Arnason. When a fire claim

is opened our SIU staff will attempt to determine both causation and origin. Many
fire claims are confirmed not to be the fault of the vehicle owner, but a
mechanical issue.

Fire investigation is only one component of the SIU, which investigates any claim
deemed to be of a suspicious nature: bodily injury, hit and run, auto theft,
vandalism, suspected staged accidents or other forms of auto insurance fraud.

Last year MPIs SIU investigated about 2,750 claims, resulting in savings of nearly
$9.3 million for the public auto insurer and its ratepayers.
 CASES OF EXPLOSION
Nevada Rocket Fuel Plant Explosion
Pipeline Accident
Fire involving automotives, recreational and powersports
vehicles
Section 15. Use of Dangerous Drugs. A person apprehended or arrested, who
is found to be positive for use of any dangerous drug, after a confirmatory test,
shall be imposed a penalty of a minimum of six (6) months rehabilitation in a
government center for the first offense, subject to the provisions of Article VIII of
this Act. If apprehended using any dangerous drug for the second time, he/she
shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment ranging from six (6) years and one (1)
day to twelve (12) years and a fine ranging from Fifty thousand pesos
(P50,000.00) to Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00): Provided, That this
Section shall not be applicable where the person tested is also found to have in
his/her possession such quantity of any dangerous drug provided for under
Section 11 of this Act, in which case the provisions stated therein shall apply.

Section 16. Cultivation or Culture of Plants Classified as Dangerous Drugs or

are Sources Thereof. - The penalty of life imprisonment to death and a fine
ranging from Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) to Ten million pesos
(P10,000,000.00) shall be imposed upon any person, who shall plant, cultivate or
culture marijuana, opium poppy or any other plant regardless of quantity, which is
or may hereafter be classified as a dangerous drug or as a source from which
any dangerous drug may be manufactured or derived: Provided, That in the case
of medical laboratories and medical research centers which cultivate or culture
marijuana, opium poppy and other plants, or materials of such dangerous drugs
for medical experiments and research purposes, or for the creation of new types
of medicine, the Board shall prescribe the necessary implementing guidelines for
the proper cultivation, culture, handling, experimentation and disposal of such
plants and materials.

The land or portions thereof and/or greenhouses on which any of said plants is
cultivated or cultured shall be confiscated and escheated in favor of the State,
unless the owner thereof can prove lack of knowledge of such cultivation or
culture despite the exercise of due diligence on his/her part. If the land involved
is part of the public domain, the maximum penalty provided for under this Section
shall be imposed upon the offender.

The maximum penalty provided for under this Section shall be imposed upon any
person, who organizes, manages or acts as a "financier" of any of the illegal
activities prescribed in this Section.

The penalty of twelve (12) years and one (1) day to twenty (20) years of
imprisonment and a fine ranging from One hundred thousand pesos
(P100,000.00) to Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) shall be imposed
upon any person, who acts as a "protector/coddler" of any violator of the
provisions under this Section.
(ff) Pusher. Any person who sells, trades, administers, dispenses, delivers or gives away to
another, on any terms whatsoever, or distributes, dispatches in transit or transports dangerous
drugs or who acts as a broker in any of such transactions, in violation of this Act.
This Act shall be known and cited as the "Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002".