James Hibbard (Reporter)

From Sony Music Entertainment and Novel, I'm Sam Anderson. You're listening to The Arsonist Next Door.

From Sony Music Entertainment and Novel, I'm Sam Anderson. You're listening to The Arsonist Next Door.

When this arson spree first began, back when only a couple of houses had been burned, there was no task force. There was just Lieutenant Rob Handy, his small team, and anyone else who might be up for helping out in their spare time.

When this arson spree first began, back when only a couple of houses had been burned, there was no task force. There was just Lieutenant Rob Handy, his small team, and anyone else who might be up for helping out in their spare time.

It was the early days of the investigation, and there doesn't seem to be a single officer interested in Rob's vague request to help with some long hours of overnight surveillance.

It was the early days of the investigation, and there doesn't seem to be a single officer interested in Rob's vague request to help with some long hours of overnight surveillance.

Except for one.

Except for one.

This is Kerry Miasso.

This is Kerry Miasso.

Carrie is a rookie officer fresh out of the Phoenix Police Academy. She has no idea that in just a few months, she'll end up playing a pivotal role in the investigation. In fact, she's only recently completed her first solo patrol.

Carrie is a rookie officer fresh out of the Phoenix Police Academy. She has no idea that in just a few months, she'll end up playing a pivotal role in the investigation. In fact, she's only recently completed her first solo patrol.

Something was going down at a local fast food restaurant, and Kerry was the closest officer to the incident.

Something was going down at a local fast food restaurant, and Kerry was the closest officer to the incident.

Ever felt the fear of public speaking? Now imagine you have to speak in front of an audience made up entirely of cops.

Ever felt the fear of public speaking? Now imagine you have to speak in front of an audience made up entirely of cops.

That's why when Rob pops his head into her daily squad briefing with a mysterious offer of more work on a local arson investigation, Carrie, unlike her more senior colleagues, is all in.

That's why when Rob pops his head into her daily squad briefing with a mysterious offer of more work on a local arson investigation, Carrie, unlike her more senior colleagues, is all in.

What happens next is the part you've heard already. This case snowballs into a massive Joint Task Force investigation. Houses are burning down left and right. The media is in a frenzy about God-fearing eco-terrorists running wild. The FBI has made this one of their top priorities. And rookie officer Kerry? Before long, she's doing the kind of stuff that senior officers dream of.

What happens next is the part you've heard already. This case snowballs into a massive Joint Task Force investigation. Houses are burning down left and right. The media is in a frenzy about God-fearing eco-terrorists running wild. The FBI has made this one of their top priorities. And rookie officer Kerry? Before long, she's doing the kind of stuff that senior officers dream of.