Arson Suspected In Home Fire Belonging To Texas Jurist; Foreclosure Filing A "Red Flag"

An Associated Press article in The Dallas Morning News reports:

• The Harris County Fire Marshal's Office said the fire that destroyed the home of Texas Supreme Court Justice David Medina this summer was "very suspicious" and is being investigated as arson. The fire broke out the night of June 28 in the garage of Medina's home near the Houston suburb of Spring, also destroying one neighboring home and damaged a third. Nathan Green, the lead investigator on the case, said a dog detected an accelerant at the fire scene. He said that doesn't always mean the fire was set on purpose, but "more times than not, the presence of an accelerant is indicative of an incendiary, intentionally set fire."

[...]

• A mortgage company filed to foreclose on the home in June 2006, according to public records. Medina and the mortgage company reached an agreement the following December, Green said. The foreclosure filing was a "very, very big red flag" for investigators, Green said. [...] Green said officials have subpoenaed cell phone and financial records of Medina family members and friends.

For more, see Fire marshal says justice's house fire was intentionally set (if link expired, try here).

For story update, see Fire at Texas Supreme Court justice's home ignites mystery (His lawyer says he is not a suspect; financial woes add to mystery) (10-12-07). zebra