Serial Arsonist Sought in AR Fires

EDMONSON, Ark. - Firefighters say a serial arsonist, recently released from jail, may be at work again, in the small town of Edmondson, Arkansas. Two homes have been set on fire in the last week and fire officials are worried the arsonist is getting more aggressive.

Monday afternoon, in broad daylight, a trailer home near Fleming Street went up in flames. Emma Jean Mobbley owns the trailer and lives across the street. She says she saw a man near the home just before the fire.

Mobbley says, "He stooped down this way and I told him, get off my property."

The trailer belonged to Mobbley's son, who died last year. She says no one lived there, but she did keep her son's belongings there as a way to remember him.

Mobbley says, "I would put it out because that's his trailer house, I hate someone burned it down."

The trailer home fire is just the 3rd arson this year. Firefighters say this home was set on fire last week.

Volunteer Fire Chief Michael Dozier says, "There were no utilities to the home, it was an abandoned residence, just mysteriously caught fire, that don't just happen."

While most of the places the suspected arsonist has burned have been vacant, the fire chief is concerned the next one won't be.

Dozier says, "If it's the same individual we think it is, he moves on to burning things people are living in."

Last year, Sheriff's deputies say Calvin Prackett was arrested for setting fire to several Edmondson buildings, including a church. He was convicted for some of the fires and was released from jail in April. Sheriff's deputies say they plan on interviewing him about the most recent fires.

Mobbley says Prackett matches the description of the man she saw outside her trailer home before the fire started. She has confidence, the fire bug, whoever it is...will be caught.

Mobbley says, "the police said they're gonna get him."

If you know anything about the fires call Crittenden County Crimestoppers at 870-732-4444.