check out this video. Frightening.
Forum: Fire/Arson Investigations

Had one years ago. Small kitchen, large table, elderly man. Cold so multiple layers of clothing and turned on stove for warmth. tried to squeeze between table and stove and caught coat on fire. Found dead on the kitchen floor. The only fire damage was to the victim. The good sheriff above would likely have linked this old man's death to Spontaneous Human Combustion since there was
Forum: Fire/Arson Investigations

I agree that it was a very good article. Tralfamadorian - A style of writing pioneered by Kurt Vonnegut in his work "Slaughterhouse-Five." Tralfamadorian style is defined by a cyclical process of moving forward, while also looping back, and ultimately finishing with the beginning. Now thats just funny right there.
Forum: Fire/Arson Investigations

Pat, If you haven't already done so, you should bring your father to the World War II museum here in New Orleans. If you have and it's been a while, you should bring him back. It has changed tremendously over the last two years. It is absolutely on par with the Smithsonian Museums. Amazing place. The museum is an amazing tribute to you father and all that served from the "G
Forum: Fire/Arson Investigations

OK, I have an ethanol question that isn't fire related. I learned the hard way during our last hurricane when I tried to fire up my generator and found that all of the hoses/fuel lines were basically gunked/dissolved due to ethanol gasoline. Had to rebuild the carb and change the hoses and now let the motor run dry before storage. Question is, are these same effects occurring in autom
Forum: Fire/Arson Investigations

jaudio Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I will reply to the motive in a separate post. > > With this post I would like to ask Dan for a > favor. Please ask the Agents involved if they > were aware of the now known ATF video of the > areosol cans spreading fire prior to or during > this trial. And did anyone in the trial ask them >
Forum: Fire/Arson Investigations

Very cool story. May he play long enough to hear Willard Scott mention his name...at least.
Forum: Fire/Arson Investigations

dcarpenter Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Dan, > > "Where does that leave us?" With the application > of the Scientific Method. There seems to be > evidence that supports the formulation of the > hypothesis that these isolated burn patterns are > the result of the aerosol cans. There may be, but I am not familiar with what that evidence is. Please p
Forum: Fire/Arson Investigations

dcarpenter Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > A determination of "multiple areas of origin" is > an interpretation of the data that may or may not > be a reliable determination. At the very least, > the data seems to be that there are multiple areas > of isolated burn patterns. Since there is a > significant difference between the two, what is > the technical
Forum: Fire/Arson Investigations

Pat, Thanks, it truly is a young mans game. Time to do a little more Gator Huntin. Steve, You are the best I've ever worked with. Thank you to both of you.
Forum: Fire/Arson Investigations

jaudio Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Actually, I am pretty up on the case, and there > are a ton of things that are disturbing, most of > which have been discussed in this thread and > previous threads. > > Sure it could have been arson......yet the > impossible aersol theory which the prosecution put > forth is absolutely bogus. The gun store was >
Forum: Fire/Arson Investigations

I'll take a shot. He does not want to take the time to learn the facts of the case because he believes that by doing so it would only anger him. However, even though he admittedly only knows one side of the story, he suspects that Stevens (Severns) was wrongly convicted and somehow the ATF agents involved were part of a vast Right or Left Wing conspiracy (depending on his political vie
Forum: Fire/Arson Investigations

Fire endorsed Kenndy? Who woulda thunk it. Maybe the Mayans were right, just off a couple of weeks.
Forum: Fire/Arson Investigations

Since I am now retired from ATF...Two days now...my office is in transition. I say that because my reference books are not yet unpacked. That being said, the specific book is not as important as the information. I often use a book to help with my report writing that has virtually every type of structural/architectural design that you may encounter in a fire investigation. Very helpful on things
Forum: Fire/Arson Investigations

Pat, I am a glass half full kinda guy. There is always hope.
Forum: Fire/Arson Investigations

Fire Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Well from the little I know on this case it was a > railroad job that went by the way side or should > have after the discovery of the ATF tape. Are you > saying Jim that Stevens was not able to get anyone > to see the light on this. What about his appeal > anyway what happened to that. I would suggest that since yo
Forum: Fire/Arson Investigations

Two Lines? Well done.
Forum: Fire/Arson Investigations

J L Mazerat Wrote: I know as a fact that in one of my > cases there was a guilty plea accepted and there > was no way this person knew how the fire started. Jim as a point of clarification you are referring to the investigator...not the suspect...when you say "no way this person knew how the fire started. Also, I have seen on one occasion that a Federal Judge refused to acc
Forum: Fire/Arson Investigations

kidding of course...for those that may not recognize it.
Forum: Fire/Arson Investigations

John J. Lentini, CFEI Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- There were affidavits from the > following individuals, all ready to testify at the > second trial: Doug Carpenter, John DeHaan, Jack > Malooly, John Lentini and Jamie McAllister...All were ready to state that those > bases did not support such a conclusion. Hmm, sounds like a pretty weak
Forum: Fire/Arson Investigations

OK...I agree with that.
Forum: Fire/Arson Investigations

Well if this forum has taught me anything over the years it is this...Just become someone says it does not make it so.
Forum: Fire/Arson Investigations

Doug, The “False Confession” data you are referring to relates to confessions that are given in relation to Interrogations, not court pleas. As a matter of fact, in the United States federal system, before entering judgment on a guilty plea, the court must determine that there is a factual basis for the plea. If not, then it will not be accepted. False Confession is a great topic, but t
Forum: Fire/Arson Investigations

Jim, I may have missed your point, but this is what I was addressing. "I would bet there have been more times lately that the new evidence has proven the defendant innocent and the fire investigators for the prosecution still refuses to admit they were wrong." First off I disagree with that statement. I, and every public investigator that I personally know, never come on here and po
Forum: Fire/Arson Investigations

I respectfully disagree with you Jim...On EVERY case during my career where there was a defense expert involved (except one where I was going to be a defense expert, so technically I was involved...) the defense expert was ultimately proven wrong. 9 out of 10 times they were proven wrong by a guilty plea and a confession in the last hour before trial...and I was always adamant that a guilty plea
Forum: Fire/Arson Investigations

I was indirectly asked by the Balke family to let the fire investigation community know about the passing of Jerry Balke. Jerry D. Balke, IAAI-CFI, a long-time Houston Area Fire Investigator passed away on Friday, November 23, 2012 after a long fight with diabetes, failing kidneys and other complications from colon cancer. Jerry was most recently employed by PT&C Forensic Consulting Servi
Forum: Fire/Arson Investigations

Neither could the judge.
Forum: Fire/Arson Investigations

Steven Wright is brilliant. I often steal part of this line from him when someone in my vehicle doesn't immediately buckle up their seat belts... "I like to pick up hitchhikers. When they get in the car I say, 'Put on your seat belt. I want to try something. I saw it once in a cartoon, but I think I can do it.'" - Steven Wright
Forum: Fire/Arson Investigations

Mister Sir Gary, I did not read Hennessy’s statement as argumentative or accusing anyone of guilt in any way. A statement was made regarding Willingham’s innocence and the fact that he loved his children. I didn’t hear Mr. Hennessy even deny that it was true. He only asked what data was used to conclude that he loved his children and that the cause of the fire was accidental. Based on
Forum: Fire/Arson Investigations

John, a video of what? I am unable to open your link, so I will try it from home later. Thanks.
Forum: Fire/Arson Investigations