Suspect in 2018 Apartment Fire: Jacob De Leon O Shea Ferguson, the main suspect in the 2018 apartment fire that killed five people, was freed from jail. Opinions on this vary in the community. Concerns have been raised about his bond.
It was a big step forward when Ferguson was caught in July, five years after the fire. He was charged with a first-degree crime for starting fires that harmed or killed people. His bond was initially set at $250,000. He’s not charged yet despite being in jail for almost three months.
As per state law, if a person isn’t charged within 90 days in jail, they might qualify for a “personal recognizance bond” to be released without bail, provided they attend future court dates.
Hays County DA Kelly Higgins said, “On Sept. 20, 2023, lawyers and investigators met.” Cops and prosecutors agree more questions must be answered before the case goes to a grand jury. Prosecutors told Ferguson’s lawyer he’d be released on a personal bond during the ongoing investigation.
When San Marcos heard Ferguson was released, it vowed to keep fighting for justice for survivors, victims, and families. Five people, including promising young individuals, died in this tragic incident. Four victims knew Ferguson, a TX State University student.
Ferguson’s warrant application revealed case facts. The fire began in a mattress on the first floor and spread to two buildings. Investigators found that Ferguson was involved with the bed and was intoxicated and upset about finances and a relationship during the fire.
In 2018, Ferguson was not initially considered a suspect, per fire marshal Jonathan Henderson. Agents obtained vital witness information that led to Ferguson’s arrest with the help of the Texas Rangers.
Ferguson denied knowing about the mattress after the fire. Later, he said a friend left it for him outside her place. In later talks with another friend, they discussed the mattress’s flammability and Ferguson’s drunkenness.
This year, we learned more about Ferguson’s behavior. He allegedly informed a friend that his room was ablaze and his cats perished. This led to discussions about potential fire causes, like a stray spark or deliberate use of the mattress.
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2018, we spoke to the woman who gave Ferguson the mattress and discovered something else. She said Ferguson told her to lie to the police and hide information about the bed. Multiple people contacted her, and she later claimed to have spoken with Ferguson, who advised her to pretend memory loss from the five-year gap.
In another interview, Ferguson’s friend suggested his anger over a rejected date might have played a role. He mentioned Ferguson’s “disrespect for women” and his job dissatisfaction.
Ferguson never admitted to the crime but discussed the fire’s speed, strength, and potential charges.
Ferguson was arrested due to new evidence found. This was a big step forward in the unsolved case.
Residents and families sued building owners. Their complaints focused on unsafe conditions, like missing fire hoses, faulty smoke detectors, and a fire-aggravating roof design.
The case settled out of court, terms undisclosed. Ferguson’s release has left the community and fire victims with mixed feelings and renewed hopes.
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