Torched Arden Oaks Home Up For Sale Again

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) -- It was set on fire nearly two decades ago. Now, what's left of the Pappadopoulos property in the Arden Oaks area is up for sale for $1.5 million.

Huge flames, smoke and fire trucks filled the prestigious neighborhood back in 1992 as a multimillion dollar mansion burned to the ground. The investigation revealed an insurance fraud plot that played out like a soap opera.

"You never walk by it that you don't remember what happened," neighbor Maryanne Mayberry said.

Defense attorney Donald Heller represented convicted arsonist Koko Pappadopoulos, an immigrant who made a fortune in land development. When the market turned, he was accused of hiring an associate to set the family home on fire for insurance money. Pappadopoulos fled to Greece, leaving behind his wife to serve seven years in prison.

"I was very surprised he left Kathy holding the bag so to speak because I thought that he loved his wife and cared about his wife," Heller said. "What it did was have her take the entire weight of the offense."

The Pappadopoulos property was controversial even before the fire with neighbors signing petitions to restrict the size and over-the-top design of the family's dream home.

"It was kind of ostentatious at the time, but now when you look around at the mansions that have been built in the community, it would fit right in," Mayberry said.

All that remains is a pool, water fountains and an outdoor kitchen. It's listed as an "infamous Arden Oaks property ready to begin a new life." The asking price of $1.5 million is for 1.3 acres.

The price was just $360,000 the last time the home sold -- back in 1994 shortly after the fire in a court-ordered auction.

Pappadopoulos has been living free in Greece for nearly two decades now. Federal authorities could not extradite the Greek citizen because of a treaty agreement.