A suspected arsonist responsible for a series of fires in Iowa has been apprehended, and surprisingly, the culprit is a local firefighter.
Kendall Eugene Rhoads, aged 60, has been arrested and is facing numerous felony arson charges, as announced by the Grundy County Sheriff's Office on Facebook. Rhoads, a resident of Grundy Center, has served as a firefighter in the nearby town of Holland for six years.
Authorities had been conducting a months-long search to identify the person responsible for a string of fires in the area.
According to their statement, "In April of this year, the Grundy County Sheriff's Office initiated an investigation into a series of arson fires. These fires primarily involved ditch fires, some of which spread to nearby cornfields, while others affected buildings on abandoned properties."
Surprisingly, Rhoads would not only set these fires but also respond to them as a member of the fire department, assisting in extinguishing the very blazes he allegedly ignited.
Rhoads is facing a total of 13 counts of second-degree arson and one count of reckless use of fire or explosives, classified as a "serious misdemeanor."
The sheriff's office acknowledged the public's involvement in solving the case, though they did not provide specific details on how the public contributed.
The investigation remains ongoing, and a hearing is scheduled for October 9. Rhoads is currently in custody at the Grundy County Jail, with bail yet to be set, according to the sheriff's office.
Meanwhile in another new, the family of an 8-year-old girl who tragically lost her life due to police gunfire near a Pennsylvania high school football game in 2021 has reached a settlement in their lawsuit. See detailed story here
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