Authorities: DNA on scene helped solve arson cases

By Suzanne Le Breton

St. Tammany News

In addition to the slow-burning matches authorities believe he used to set the fires, Kenneth W. Singletary left something else behind in the woods off Louisiana Highway 1088 - his DNA.

Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Bob Odom said it was a "history-making" moment, the first time his office has used DNA to solve a woods' arson.

Since mid-January, more than 20 fires presumed to be arson-related have occurred along La. 1088 and Interstate 12.

George Bonnett, spokesman for the St. Tammany Sheriff's Office, said authorities have used forensic evidence to connect the 46-year-old Pearl River school bus driver to two of the fires, but they believe he may be also responsible for several others, including Tuesday's blaze that charred more than 250 acres near Louisiana Highway 36.

He said investigators believe Singletary set the fires on his way to where he parked his bus off La. 1088.

Odem said Singletary allegedly began setting fires in January 2006 on La. 1088 between La. 36 and I-12. He said the fires were set at similar times and near the same location.

The Sheriff's Office worked closely with several other agencies during the investigation, including the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Louisiana State Police Crime Lab, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Federal Forest Service investigators.

It was Roy St. Pierre, an investigation officer for the Agriculture and Forestry Commission, who began surveillance of the area where the fires were occurring and located 10 delayed-action incendiary devices, commonly referred to as slow matches.

The devices were submitted to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for analysis.

Bonnett said evidence collected at the scenes of the two fires led them to Singletary. He said DNA evidence on the devices recovered matched DNA on other evidence that authorities have linked to Singletary.

Warrants were issued, and Singletary was stopped while driving on La. 36 Thursday morning. He was arrested and charged with two counts each of simple arson and manufacturing of a delayed action incendiary device, both felony charges.

He was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Jail and released the same day on a $40,000 bond.

Linda Roan, spokesperson for the St. Tammany Parish School Board, said the administration is following the case closely, but she could not comment on Singletary's employment status because it is a personnel matter.

St. Pierre said most of the fires allegedly set by Singletary were quickly contained but had the potential to do severe damage to valuable timberland and any structures nearby.

"Any time a wildfire is set, it can cause unbelievable destruction to land, trees and homes and endanger lives. The other problem is each time we have to go out to a set like these, we're possibly taking away manpower and equipment from other accidentally-set wildfires," St. Pierre said.

Odom reminded Louisiana citizens that there is still a lot of debris left from Hurricane Katrina, increasing fuel for wildfires.

"Burning outdoors remains dangerous, especially during high winds. I urge everyone to check the weather and call your local municipality before burning outside," Odom cautioned. "And if you're thinking about purposefully setting woods fires, be forewarned. We investigate every fire and more than likely you will be caught. Arson is a serious crime. It's a felony, and the penalty includes fines and jail time."

Other fires in St. Tammany Parish are still under investigation. Anyone with information regarding woods fires and/or arson can contact their local LDAF office or call (800) 558-9741.

Because of the dry and windy weather conditions and the amount of debris on the ground, Parish President Kevin Davis has established a ban on burning in the parish.

Despite that, Suzanne Parson Stymiest, spokesperson for the parish, said the parish has lost 732 acres of land to forest fires since March 1, many of which were caused by burning debris piles that got out of control.