On December 5, 2015, just before 8:30 AM, YCSO deputies were dispatched to 20800 block of E Monte Vista Circle in Cordes Lakes, AZ, regarding a fire. A residence was fully engulfed in flames when deputies arrived. Crews from the Mayer Fire Department were eventually able to extinguish the fire and did a great job keeping it from spreading to nearby grasses. Deputies provided security in the area and checked for witnesses. The fire was determined to be suspicious in origin. There was no electrical or gas service at the home and it had been unoccupied for at least 2 weeks prior.
No one was home at the time of the fire and deputies had information the resident was staying nearby. He was located and brought to the scene. The resident expressed concern about ongoing conflicts with certain neighbors as a factor deputies should investigate as to the cause.
Deputies located a neighbor who reported seeing a suspicious person in the area before the fire started. At approximately 7:15 AM, the neighbor saw a man on Cortez Road, directly south and near vacant land bordering the involved property. The man walked along Cortez Road and then cut across vacant land to Big Bug Creek and out of sight. Around the same time the witness lost site of the man, a silver 4-door passenger car pulled away. It has not been confirmed if this man was connected to the car.
The man was described as ‘thin,’ wearing a solid black hooded jacket with patches on the right shoulder. There was an American flag patch on the back of the jacket, approximately 8″-10″ in size.
The subject had his hood up and his hands in the jacket pockets. A detective from the Criminal Investigations Bureau has been assigned to the case and he is looking for anyone who might have information regarding the fire and/or the described suspicious person seen in the area.
Please contact Detective Todd Swaim at 928-567-7710 or Yavapai Silent Witness at 1800-932-3232. Callers to Silent Witness become eligible for a cash reward if an arrest is made in this case.