Murder, Arson Charges For Wildfire Suspect

Raymond Lee Oyler Accused In Calif. Blaze That Killed 5 Firefighters

(CBS/AP)  Authorities on Thursday filed murder and arson charges carrying the death penalty against a man suspected of setting a Southern California wildfire last week that killed five firefighters.

The suspect, Raymond Lee Oyler, 36, was already under arrest on suspicion of setting two other wildfires over the summer. Officials were investigating whether he was involved with more than three dozen fires since May.

Last week's blaze was the deadliest for firefighters since July 1994, when 14 were killed near Glenwood Springs, Colo., according to the National Interagency Fire Center statistics.

Before his arrest Tuesday, Oyler told his boss he was in trouble, reports CBS News correspondent Jerry Bowen.

"He pulled me to the side and said, 'Hey, I've got some problems,'" Jason Walden, of Highland Springs Automotive, said. "And he said, 'Well, they're actually investigating me for this fire over here.'"

District Attorney-elect Rod Pacheco said the evidence against Oyler was "overwhelming." Prosecutors charged him with five counts of murder, 11 counts of arson and 10 counts of use of an incendiary device. The charges include seven fires in June, one in July, one in September and two in October.

Oyler appeared in court in handcuffs and a jail jumpsuit as his attorney denied all charges. Oyler "adamantly denies involvement in this fire and in any of these fires," attorney Mark McDonald said outside court. "He's very distraught and scared ... The finger is pointing at him." Oyler, who said nothing during the brief hearing, was held without bail.

Authorities were checking whether Oyler was involved with a total of at least 40 fires in the area since May, according to an official involved in the investigation who spoke on condition of anonymity because the case is continuing.

Investigators were also looking at a 1998 fire in which the pilot of a firefighting aircraft died in a crash. That blaze burned more than 24,000 acres in the San Jacinto Mountains and had a burn pattern similar to last week's fire, the official said.

Authorities did not immediately disclose a motive and would not say what led them to Oyler.

Oyler will also face two so-called special circumstances, one alleging murders committed during arson and another alleging multiple murders.

The charges are punishable by life in prison without parole or the death penalty. Authorities will decide in the next 60 days which sentence to seek, Pacheco said.

"The feelings of the surviving family members of the victims will be consulted and be given great weight by our office in what is always a difficult decision," he said.

A woman who answered the phone at the home of Oyler's mother said she had no comment.

The fire was stoked by Santa Ana winds as it swept southwest through the San Jacinto Mountains about 90 miles east of Los Angeles. The flames overran the fire crew, destroyed 34 homes and charred more than 60 square miles before being contained Monday.

Three firefighters died at the scene, and a fourth died soon after at a hospital. A fifth was taken off life support and died this week.

Investigators interviewed Oyler on Oct. 27, served a search warrant on his residence Monday, then arrested him Tuesday.

"This arrest really does help with some of the closure, the healing that we in the Forest Service community, and in the families, need," said Jeanne Wade Evans, the San Bernardino National Forest supervisor.

Meanwhile, fire survivors met with officials last night to plan their recovery, reports Bowen. Since no tip led to Oyler's arrest, the victims may share the $500,000 reward fund to help rebuild their homes and lives.

[tomflint69]

Its still possible that he is not guilty. Dont you remember all those games played by Mr. Karr? when a reporter asked him if he was innocent, he said loudly 'NO' and after he proved innocent, he said, "I did not tell anyone that I did something wrong to that child".
What can we say about this man; may be he is just trying to get some coverage on media???????

[corpolongo]

Since no tip led to Oyler's arrest, the victims may share the $500,000 reward fund to help rebuild their homes and lives.

How about giving the $500,000 to the families of the five fire fighters who lost their lives fighting the fire?

[tomflint69]

Its still possible that he is not guilty. Dont you remember all those games played by Mr. Karr? when a reporter asked him if he was innocent, he said loudly 'NO' and after he proved innocent, he said, "I did not tell anyone that I did something wrong to that child".
What can we say about this man; may be he is just trying to get some coverage on media???????

[one_american]

If he is convicted; DEATH PENALTY.

[shane2469137]

I can tell just by looking at this picture that this is the man who did it. He looks guilty and evil and needs to be killed.

[bob_burd]

This freak should be in a hot tin shack in Guantanamo Bay until it comes time to fry him. San Quentin is too good for him.

Selah

[saraity100]

I can't agree more. Don't waste my tax money for criminals. Just simply kill them.

[tomflint69]

All that he did was absolutely unjustifiable. From his face, it seems to me as if he is about to weep and is saying he did that while he was in anger or was extremely emotional on account of something wrong happened to him. Whatever his mental condition was, it makes no sense to do harm to other people for your own mental sooth as a remedy to depression. He would get, he deserves.

[chicabear1]

Are you people kidding me??!! Even if he is found guilty and sentenced to death, he'll end up like Scott Peterson, rotting in prison at the expense of Mr/Ms Taxpayer. And then you have people like "surattius" who think we should be gentle, humane, and put on "kid gloves" when dealing with this scum of society. That's Bull**it! You are entitled to believe what you want, but, I still say that too much taxpayer money is used to support these criminals for the rest of their lives and they don't deserve to be treated "humanely". Some criminals will never change and don't deserve to live among civilized society. I say let him sit in "old sparky" and save the taxpayers some $$.

[bossmare2]

Whatever this monster's reason was for starting the fire, he should be sentenced to death for killing those firefighters, and causing such pain for the families.
If convicted, and the death penalty is applied, I hope to heaven he is not able to cry unusual and painful death by lethal injection. I hope the officials of Riverside County make sure to dot all the i's and cross all the t's to make sure this creep can never appeal the sentence and win.

[vriss]

This is another form of Domestic Terrorism and he should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.
Posted by ssemrad at 04:00 PM : Nov 02, 2006

I could not agree with you more.

[mattrix007]

FacistUSA...

Cabazon isn't wealthy So. Cal. It's dominated by an Indian tribe. The fire didn't get started in Palos Verdes, it was in the desert. A lot of poor folk were evacuated.

As far as a revolt, there's plenty to revolt against in the way that our government works, but it is not fascist and arson is not free speech.

[shane2469137]

naaaa....come on.

screw due process and the legal system.

it just makes me feel better emotionally to see someone's ulgy mug on the front page news...someone's life who is now ruined forever.

being guilty or not doesn't make any difference to my emotionally sick needs to see ulgy people suffer.

kill that ulgy man.

[squiz2]

I thought the "if guilty" part was just implicit. Sorry about the confusion folks.

[nolalou]

I agree, Squiz2, lets make sure he's guilty first! Remeber that guy they went after for the Olympic boming in Atlanta, before it turned out they had the wrong guy! But if he is found guilty, I agree, throw the book at him.

[cheralina]

Yeah so much for you ignorant people that were so convinced a Firefighter started this fire for some sick glory!

[ssemrad]

This is another form of Domestic Terrorism and he should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

[delta5243]

sucks to be that guy........

[surattius]

I am sure the investigation will be thorough and I hope it will be just.

Just to represent the "other side", let's think mercy. Incarceration to prevent further death and damage rather than punishment seems more humane.

[pima6]

it takes a special kind of @sshole. there is a speciall place in h3ll.