Sam Anderson

Episode 6, Behind the Facade.

Episode 6, Behind the Facade.

Oh, my God. That looks like a second plane.

Oh, my God. That looks like a second plane.

The Binge. It's the morning of April 20th, 2001. Mark Sands has been arrested for writing on a sign that the cops staged as part of a fake construction site. And the community of Heritage Heights is waking up to flashing lights spilling in through the cracks between their curtains. The quiet suburban enclave is filled with police cars.

The Binge. It's the morning of April 20th, 2001. Mark Sands has been arrested for writing on a sign that the cops staged as part of a fake construction site. And the community of Heritage Heights is waking up to flashing lights spilling in through the cracks between their curtains. The quiet suburban enclave is filled with police cars.

The neighborhood thought the arson spree was the work of CSP, the Coalition to Save the Preserves, a group of radical eco-terrorists. Now, Mark Sands has been arrested and questioned by the police. Could their friendly neighbor be a serial arsonist?

The neighborhood thought the arson spree was the work of CSP, the Coalition to Save the Preserves, a group of radical eco-terrorists. Now, Mark Sands has been arrested and questioned by the police. Could their friendly neighbor be a serial arsonist?

What did he seem like to you?

What did he seem like to you?

The folks whose houses burned down learn about the arrest from the news.

The folks whose houses burned down learn about the arrest from the news.

That's Danielle Sink, the woman whose house was torched right around Christmastime, leaving behind nothing but a tiny Santa Claus figurine.

That's Danielle Sink, the woman whose house was torched right around Christmastime, leaving behind nothing but a tiny Santa Claus figurine.

And Lee Benson, the owner of the house that burned twice, he feels vindicated. I remember just thinking, oh, so it is somebody in the neighborhood. Lee believed from the jump that CSP was one of his neighbors. But for Mark's closest friends, their reaction is total disbelief.

And Lee Benson, the owner of the house that burned twice, he feels vindicated. I remember just thinking, oh, so it is somebody in the neighborhood. Lee believed from the jump that CSP was one of his neighbors. But for Mark's closest friends, their reaction is total disbelief.

This is Vicki Deworth. I tracked her down to get a sense of the reaction in Mark's inner circle. She'd known him for years before the arrest.

This is Vicki Deworth. I tracked her down to get a sense of the reaction in Mark's inner circle. She'd known him for years before the arrest.

They're even part of the same Bible study group. When Mark is arrested, at first, Vicki just cannot accept the fact that her close friend could be behind all those fires, evading the police for a whole year. So instead, she goes into support mode.

They're even part of the same Bible study group. When Mark is arrested, at first, Vicki just cannot accept the fact that her close friend could be behind all those fires, evading the police for a whole year. So instead, she goes into support mode.