Christmas tree fueled deadly electrical fire at Maryland mansion, authorities say

Jan. 19, 2015: Firefighters battle a four-alarm fire at a home on Childs Point Road, in Annapolis, Md. (AP Photo/Capital Gazette, Glenn A. Miller)

MILLERSVILLE, Md. –  An electrical fire that spread to a 15-foot Christmas tree prompted a blaze that reduced a 16,000-square-foot riverfront mansion near Maryland’s capital to ruins, killing a couple and four of their young grandchildren, investigators said Wednesday.

The fire ignited combustible material, probably a tree skirt, and tore through the massive, castle-like structure in the early morning hours of Jan. 19.

Anne Arundel County Fire Chief Allan Graves said the tree had been cut more than 60 days before the blaze and was in a “great room” of the house with 19-foot ceilings.

“The involvement of the Christmas tree explains the heavy fire conditions found by the first arriving fire crews,” Graves said.

Investigators on Wednesday identified the victims as Don and Sandra Pyle and their grandchildren: Charlotte Boone, 8; Wes Boone, 6; Lexi Boone, 8, and Katie Boone, 7. Don Pyle, 56, was chief operating officer of ScienceLogic in Reston, Virginia.

The fire was reported about 3:30 a.m. Jan. 19 by an alarm-monitoring company, reporting smoke had been detected inside, and a neighbor who spotted flames. The home had smoke detectors, and there was no indication they did not work, said Deputy Chief Scott Hoglander of the Anne Arundel County fire marshal’s office.

The big tree fueled the fire, which spread rapidly. The 911 call from a neighbor came within 2 minutes of the report to the alarm-monitoring company.

“I think it’s more about the actual fuel load of the Christmas tree and the output of energy and heat from that particular fuel load that caused the rapid fire spread,” Hoglander said. “It really had nothing to do with the building construction itself.”

The investigation found that a failure in an electrical outlet in the floor that provided power to the tree produced heat that ignited something combustible, probably a tree skirt, said Russ Davies, a spokesman for the Anne Arundel County Fire Department.

Some 85 firefighters from several jurisdictions fought the four-alarm fire, which burned for three hours before it could be contained. Because there was no hydrant in the area, firefighters shuttled tankers to the site and stationed a fire boat at a pier nearby.

Investigators brought in dogs to search for bodies and evidence, such as accelerants, and conducted more than 50 interviews. Bill McMullan, special agent in charge of the Baltimore field office of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said the investigation concluded the fire was the result of “a tragic accident that occurred at the absolutely worst possible time, while the Pyles and their grandchildren were sleeping.”

Hoglander declined to mention a specific cause of death, because officials have not received an official report back from the state medical examiner’s office.

A spokeswoman for the children’s parents said that the day before the fire, the doting grandparents bought the children costumes before taking them to dinner at a medieval-themed restaurant.

Charlotte and Wes Boone were sister and brother. Lexi and Katie were sisters; they had a newborn brother who was home with his parents, Randy and Stacey Boone, the night of the fire. The cousins’ fathers, Randy and Clint Boone, were the sons of Sandra Pyle, 63. The four children were students at the Severn School in Severna Park.

In a statement issued Wednesday, the Boone family thanked investigators for their work and well-wishers for their prayers.

“While the explanation that has been shared with us today does not bring solace, it does start us down the long road to acceptance,” the statement read.

The Pyles built the home in 2005, four years before the county began requiring sprinkler systems in new homes. Hoglander said he believes sprinklers would have made a difference.

“I would say without a doubt,” he said.

The $6 million property once boasted turrets, spiral staircases, lion statues, a sprawling lawn and forested land. All that remains resembles a colonial ruin: a brick wall with windows missing and a mountain of burned debris.

As investigators from the fire department, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the state fire marshal’s office probed the scene, members of the community brought notes and teddy bears for a small memorial just outside the property. On brick columns that flanked an iron gate, Christmas decorations were still displayed.

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Christmas tree fueled deadly electrical fire at Maryland mansion, authorities say

"CREDIBLE THREAT" Authorities: Ohio bartender threatened to kill Boehner

A former Ohio country club bartender — who told authorities that he was Jesus Christ — threatened to murder House Speaker John Boehner last fall because he believed the Ohio congressman was responsible for Ebola, according to records made available Tuesday.

A grand jury indictment filed in U.S. District Court in Ohio on Jan. 7 identified the accused man as Michael R. Hoyt, a resident of Cincinnati.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT

A separate criminal complaint said Hoyt was fired last fall from his job at a country club in West Chester, Ohio, where he served drinks to Boehner, who is a member.

In a subsequent conversation with a police officer, Hoyt said that before leaving, he “did not have time to put something in John Boehner’s drink,” according to the complaint.

The court paper also said, “Hoyt told the officer he was Jesus Christ and that he was going to kill Boehner because Boehner was mean to him at the country club and because Boehner is responsible for Ebola.”

According to the criminal complaint, Hoyt said he had a loaded Beretta .380 automatic pistol and he was going to shoot Boehner. Hoyt volunteered to be taken to a psychiatric hospital, and police took his weapon.

He is currently being held under a court order for mental evaluation and treatment, and U.S. Capitol Police and the FBI believe he “poses a current and ongoing credible threat” to Boehner, the complaint added.

The complaint says Hoyt was treated for a previous psychotic episode about two years ago. He was prescribed medication “which he voluntarily stopped taking” about six months ago, it added.

A senior congressional source told Fox News that Hoyt was committed to a mental institution from October through the end of December but then was released. Once he was out, law enforcement felt strongly enough to move to indict him to get him off the street because of the potential threat posed to Boehner.

“He said some things that really spooked us,” said one senior congressional source who is familiar with the case but asked not to be identified.

As speaker of the House, Boehner is second in line for the presidency in the event of a vacancy. His congressional district includes part of western Ohio.

A spokesman for Boehner, Michael Steel, said the speaker is “aware of the situation and sincerely thanks the FBI, the Capitol Police and the local authorities in Ohio for their efforts.”

The Capitol Police could not be reached for immediate comment.

It was not clear why officials waited as long as they did to disclose the charge. The grand jury indictment is dated Jan. 7, but the incident referred to in the papers took place on Oct. 29 of last year, and the complaint itself was filed on Nov. 6.

Fox News’ Chad Pergram, Lucas Tomlinson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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"CREDIBLE THREAT" Authorities: Ohio bartender threatened to kill Boehner

Guyana authorities question several following discovery of semi-submersible vessel

Self-Propelled Semi-Submersible (SPSS) vessel

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Tuesday September 9, 2014, CMC – The Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) says it has questioned seven people in connection with the discovery of a Self-Propelled Semi-Submersible (SPSS) vessel last month.

“These semi-submersible vessels are built for one reason and one reason only and that is to transport drugs, mainly cocaine. This vessel was more than like going to Europe or Africa not the US…the camp itself has been there for at least five months based on the materials found,” said CANU head, James Singh.

Singh gave no further details about those brought in for questioning, but the authorities believe that the vessel, discovered hidden in a swamp in the Waini River, North West District, was constructed here, given that the odometer reading indicated that the vessel travelled for only three hours.

“This is based on us sharing information with experts, persons who have seized vessels like this before… this now moves us beyond just trans-shipment,” Singh said.

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Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee said the SPSS which is now stored at the Coast Guard Base in Ruimveldt underscores the difficulties law enforcement authorities have in dealing with the illegal drugs trade.

He said that the SPSS is similar to those used by drug smugglers in Latin America and that at the request of the government, experts from the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) are assisting local law enforcement officials in their investigations.

“Drug traffickers use rivers, waterways and territorial sea very frequently to conduct their nefarious activities…we hope that this kind of work will continue on the part of the law enforcement agencies with the help of the GDF (Guyana Defence Force),” he added.

Members of the Task Force on Narcotic Drugs and Illegal Firearms recently completed the final draft of the country’s new National Drug Strategy Master Plan which has since been presented to the Cabinet for its approval.

This plan outlines the strategic, tactical and institutional objectives of the Government for the 2013-2017 period with regards to the fight against drug trafficking.

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Guyana authorities question several following discovery of semi-submersible vessel

Late stage HIV/AIDS diagnoses worries Barbados authorities

HIV/AIDS test (Credit: Caribbean360/Bigstock)

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Monday June 30, 2014, CMC - Amid continued decline in the number of persons diagnosed HIV/AIDS positive, authorities are concerned that many of those found to be infected are offering themselves for testing at late stages.

Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr Elizabeth Ferdinand, has said, “What is of concern for us is the alarming fact that many persons with HIV are being diagnosed at a late stage of the disease, when they already have developed AIDS”.

Ferdinand’s comment came as Barbados last week marked Regional HIV/AIDS Testing Day, an annual event, now in its seventh year, organised by the Caribbean Broadcast Media Partnership on HIV/AIDS.

She noted that over the past 11 years HIV has moved from an almost certain cause of death to a chronic manageable disease.

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Ferdinand however said, “This does not mean that we can become complacent and forget that this disease is still waging a war against the very fabric of our societies. Therefore to reduce the number of people who are becoming infected with HIV, the national programme must continue to place emphasis on HIV prevention which is the bedrock on which our national policy rests”.

“Have a positive outlook, be responsible and place a greater emphasis on the importance of being tested. Knowing your status is the first step in the right direction,” she said.

With a population that hovers on the 280,000 mark, the latest Barbados HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, released in 2012, shows HIV cases reduced from a peak of over 180 persons in the year 2000, to fewer than 140 in 2010; AIDs cases moved from 165 in 1998 to below 60 in 2010; and deaths declined from 120 in 1998 to under 40 in 2010.

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Late stage HIV/AIDS diagnoses worries Barbados authorities

US authorities discover marijuana, handgun in Trinidad shipment

US Customs and Border Protection (Credit: Caribbean360/Bigstock)

PHILADELPHIA, Unted States, Saturday June 28, 2014, CMC - The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency says it has intercepted a 40 caliber handgun and a quantity of marijuana bound for Trinidad concealed in a stereo radio receiver.

It said that the discovery was made during a routine examination of outbound air cargo on Thursday.
The CBP said that officers disassembled the receiver and discovered a Springfield Armory XD semi-automatic handgun, one magazine, and 10 vacuum-sealed bags containing a green, leafy material that field-tested positive for marijuana, the agency said.

It said the marijuana weighed 540 grams, or a little more than one pound and three ounces, and had a street value of less than US$1,000.

CBP did not disclose the name of the sender or intended recipient.

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“This seizure illustrates how US Customs and Border Protection officers effectively employ available technologies to intercept illicit contraband and dangerous weapons while facilitating the expeditious movement of legitimate international commerce,” said Susan Stranieri, CBP port director for the Area Port of Philadelphia.

CBP said Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) technologies, which enable it to quickly examine the contents of shipping containers and other conveyances, are “a key component in CBP’s layered enforcement strategy to protect America, our citizens and our nation’s economy”.

Meanwhile, the United States has signed an agreement to provide Trinidad and Tobago with US$1.8 million for security assistance programme.

Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago, Margaret B. Diop and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston C. Dookeran signed the agreement that the US diplomat said increases cooperative opportunities between the two countries.

She said the agreement allows for continued development of programs aimed at increasing citizen security by strengthening law enforcement capacities to counter illicit traffickers and deter violent crime. The goal of these programs is to improve security, promote social justice, and counter the efforts of local and international criminal organizations.

Dookeran thanked Washington for its assistance to the country noting that the support will better prepare Trinidad and Tobago to address critical threats of interest to each nation and the international community.

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US authorities discover marijuana, handgun in Trinidad shipment