Feb 11, 2005 4:14 pm US/Central
Fireman's Motives Revealed For Setting Fires
CHICAGO (CBS 2) ―
Bond was set Friday at $1 million for a Chicago fire lieutenant accused of setting a spree of fires at private residences, businesses and a grammar school in Chicago and Park Ridge.
Lieutenant Jeffrey Boyle is charged with four arsons in Chicago and four in Park Ridge. In court Friday, prosecutors also revelaed new motives tied to some of the alleged fires. One includes anger over a Super Bowl bet.
This garage fire in Park Ridge in May 1998 was the beginning of what prosecutors call, Boyle's life as a serial arsonist. In court, prosecutors said the Chicago firefighter admitted the crime was a personal vendetta.
"Mr. Boyle was upset with the woman who lived at that residence," said Cook County Asst. State's Attorney Mark Wirtz.
The woman, according to prosecutors, was a friend of Boyle's estranged wife. And allegedly he was so upset, he returned to the woman's house and set her porch on fire the following year.
"The woman who lived there had informed his estranged wife of his activities. He did not like that information getting to his wife, therefore he went to do damage to the home," Wirtz said.
Boyle has been charged with setting three other fires in Park Ridge, including the country club. Prosecutors told the judge that detectives found a shoe print at the country club then later searched Boyle's home.
"In that search there was a shoe that was recovered that matched the impression of the shoe that was at the fire," Wirtz said.
Prosecutors say Boyle was also upset when he allegedly set Immaculate School on fire early Monday morning.
"He was angry about losing money on the Super Bowl," Wirtz said.
That's the same excuse Boyle supposedly gave for setting three other fires the same morning: the Norwood Park field house, a garage, and a dumpster outside a restaurant. Here, prosecutors say he was captured on video tape. The judge said it was enough evidence to hold Boyle on $1 million bond.
"He's been a member of the community, a respected member. He's got children. I thought the bond should have been lower, the judge disagreed with that," said defense attorney James Tunick.
According to prosecutors, Boyle also confessed to setting 10 to 20 other fires. Prosecutors said Boyle told them he didn't remember the exact dates or locations of those fires.
Officials are still investigating Boyle's past and they haven't ruled out more charges.
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