Two more arrested in Maryland fires
Court papers say three other suspects admit involvement
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| RELATED |
• Possible arson motives cited
• Three more arrested in arsons
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Authorities on Monday arrested two more men suspected of being involved in a series of arson fires in suburban Washington, a law enforcement source said.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, would not release the men's names or ages. Six men have now been arrested in the arsons.
The fires, discovered in the pre-dawn hours of December 6, burned 45 houses in Charles County's Hunter's Brooke subdivision and caused an estimated $10 million in damage.
Three men arrested over the weekend in connection with the fires allegedly admitted to federal investigators their involvement, according to court papers released Monday.
An affidavit from an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives says the three suspects made the statements in interviews with investigators in the days following the fires, which authorities ruled were arson.
The case moved ahead after the Thursday arrest of Aaron Speed, 21, who was hired as a security guard at the Hunter's Brooke neighborhood. Speed, who failed an initial polygraph test, later admitted involvement, according to court papers. He continues to be held by authorities pending a detention hearing Tuesday afternoon.
The three other men who were arrested over the weekend are Patrick Walsh, Jeremy Parady and Michael Everhart -- each of them 20 years old and residents of Maryland. Each is accused of maliciously damaging to destroy and attempting to damage and destroy the homes by fire and conspiracy.
In court appearances Monday, Magistrate Judge Charles Day ruled all three should be held for detention hearings Thursday.
The four suspects knew one another, according to the court documents.
The father of Patrick Walsh told CNN his son is innocent, and that he is praying for his release to celebrate Christmas with his family.
During an interview in the days that followed the fires, investigators asked Walsh what would happen if trained dogs indicated the presence of accelerants in his car. He is quoted as replying, "Then I guess you got me," according to the court documents.
A subsequent test then found accelerants in two vehicles owned by Walsh, court papers say. The investigator who filed the affidavit supporting the charges said Walsh could not explain why accelerants might be found.
Parady allegedly told investigators he "was to serve as 'wheels,' " and joined Walsh, Speed, Everhart and others in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant to gather containers of gasoline, kerosene and a drum containing an unknown liquid.
Parady, according to the affidavit from ATF Special Agent Chris Trainor, said the group was equipped with matches, highway flares and butane torches.
Speed, in an interview with investigators, suggested the plan to burn down the houses was Parady's, according to the documents filed Monday. Investigators then turned their attention to Parady.
Everhart allegedly told investigators that he knew the fires were being planned and that he was present when the fires were set. But investigators also quote Everhart as saying that he did not know the fires were going to be set that night, when the group arrived at the neighborhood, and that he left before any of the sites were ablaze.
Everhart allegedly claimed he saw Walsh, Speed, Parady and others pouring what he thought was paint thinner on the ground near the houses.
Parady allegedly told investigators a second vehicle and several other friends were also present at the site and also participated in setting fires.
Parady allegedly acknowledged being the driver and went on to describe how the other suspects now in custody got out of the car, took the containers out of the trunk and kicked in the front doors of houses. The liquids were then poured inside, with a trail leading back out the front door where the materials were ignited, according to Trainor's affidavit.
CNN's Paul Courson and Jonathan Wald contributed to this report.
