Arson/Murder Spree Continues

Motel Mayhem: Arsons Continue to Take Deadly Turn
Jose M. Osorio & Megan Crepeau, Orlando Weekly

April 12, 2018

In the midst of the crashing wave of violence gripping the communities of central Florida these past months, the most recent weeks have seen a new height to the destruction being brought. Many businesses throughout the region have been the target of arson attempts in the last two weeks, though the no lives were lost until just recently. In the last week, the criminals have raised the stakes even higher, with even hotels and similar businesses targeted, leaving victims and law enforcement baffled and horrified.

Police in Orange, Osceola, and Highlands counties are now investigating murders at the sites of arson attempts. On Wednesday (April 11th) afternoon, Lake Wales police were called to the Camp Mack Lodge when passersby reported a fire. They arrived to find a blaze destroying multiple buildings on the remote business and several people dead. A first responder confirmed that at least some had suffered gunshot wounds.

That same day, emergency services responded to a fire a Florida vocational training retreat on Lake Pierce not far away, to find a similar scene of burning buildings and mysterious murders. As yet, authorities have not released the identities of any of the victims. These grizzly scenes ride on the heals of a shooting Sunday (April 8th) night at the Holiday Inn in the Orlando UCF area, where the occupants of the room are still listed as missing.

At this time, state and county authorities have not officially confirmed that these and previously reported fires are connected, but inside sources state that investigators believe that they are. No suspects have yet been named by state or county Sheriff’s officials.