James Hibbard (Reporter)

The guy said, you know, call rural Metro and ask about the two notes that were left behind that hadn't been reported yet.

The guy said, you know, call rural Metro and ask about the two notes that were left behind that hadn't been reported yet.

And he also said the timing of the fire was not coincidental.

And he also said the timing of the fire was not coincidental.

He said, you know, we thought that setting that fire would be a good-faith effort to establish our credibility.

He said, you know, we thought that setting that fire would be a good-faith effort to establish our credibility.

That hit hard. It was like everything swoons for a moment. I didn't really know what to do with it, so I just got to work asking questions instead. He's doing a lot of the talking initially and kept using the word they. He said that there are a group of four of them.

That hit hard. It was like everything swoons for a moment. I didn't really know what to do with it, so I just got to work asking questions instead. He's doing a lot of the talking initially and kept using the word they. He said that there are a group of four of them.

He talked about how he set the fires. He would say details like how he would wait for a calm night with no gusting winds, how they prayed before each fire, how they didn't want firefighters to be hurt.

He talked about how he set the fires. He would say details like how he would wait for a calm night with no gusting winds, how they prayed before each fire, how they didn't want firefighters to be hurt.

I noticed that he didn't use the word arson. He always called it like activities.

I noticed that he didn't use the word arson. He always called it like activities.

He starts, like, grooving and enjoying the music and lecturing. You know, if you don't look suspicious, suspicion isn't drawn to you, he said. One of our keys to success is how well we blend in. At one point, he said something like, you know, what did they expect, you know, for me to carry an Olympic torch? He struck me as arrogant, cocky, and kind of controlling.

He starts, like, grooving and enjoying the music and lecturing. You know, if you don't look suspicious, suspicion isn't drawn to you, he said. One of our keys to success is how well we blend in. At one point, he said something like, you know, what did they expect, you know, for me to carry an Olympic torch? He struck me as arrogant, cocky, and kind of controlling.

One question that was important to me was how he feels when he lights these fires. And the reason I wanted to know that is I wanted to try and get at what's driving all this really. Because he talked about the politics, but I didn't really get the sense that this guy was an eco-warrior. It felt more personal.

One question that was important to me was how he feels when he lights these fires. And the reason I wanted to know that is I wanted to try and get at what's driving all this really. Because he talked about the politics, but I didn't really get the sense that this guy was an eco-warrior. It felt more personal.

So I asked him how he feels when he lights a fire, and he says, there's no thrill, there's some gamesmanship there, but I don't take pride in being a criminal. Well, I thought that was bullshit. So near the end of the interview, I circled back and asked the same question again, just a different way. And this time he gave a different answer. He said, fear and anticipation.

So I asked him how he feels when he lights a fire, and he says, there's no thrill, there's some gamesmanship there, but I don't take pride in being a criminal. Well, I thought that was bullshit. So near the end of the interview, I circled back and asked the same question again, just a different way. And this time he gave a different answer. He said, fear and anticipation.

That's what he feels when he does this. Fear of being observed and then the anticipation of the media coverage. and it suddenly made the location make sense. He wasn't in Patriot Square despite the police presence. He was there because of it. It made it more risky, more of a thrill.

That's what he feels when he does this. Fear of being observed and then the anticipation of the media coverage. and it suddenly made the location make sense. He wasn't in Patriot Square despite the police presence. He was there because of it. It made it more risky, more of a thrill.