Investigators name mayor arson suspect
Justin Weinrich
Issue date: 3/3/05 Section: News
Debbie Masten, Kirksville Mayor and owner of Too Tall's Two Eatery and Spirits, has been identified as a suspect in the Jan. 1 arson of Too Tall's.
Mark Williams, Adair County prosecuting attorney, said Masten was identified as a suspect Tuesday in a meeting of the lead investigator from the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Assistant U.S. Attorney Dean Hoag and Williams. Williams also said the U.S. Attorney's office will wait to file charges until crime scene analysis from the ATF lab has been received.
Williams said the announcement of Masten as a suspect is not an indictment. He said other suspects might be identified as the investigation progresses.
"If charges come, the U.S. Attorney's office would be the one that would file a charge," Williams said.
He said federal investigators initially were called because of ATF's capabilities and resources in arson investigations.
"When ATF was called in, the [Missouri] fire marshal called them in originally because it was a commercial fire, and they have experts on arson and those types of crimes," Williams said. "They also were called in because we knew lab analysis was going to be needed in some areas."
Williams gave no indication of when Masten may be questioned.
He declined to comment on the specific trigger that transferred jurisdiction from the state to the federal level but said the choice was a joint decision made by all parties Tuesday.
Both Masten and her attorney, Rick Jackson, were unavailable Wednesday for comment.
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Mark Williams, Adair County prosecuting attorney, said Masten was identified as a suspect Tuesday in a meeting of the lead investigator from the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Assistant U.S. Attorney Dean Hoag and Williams. Williams also said the U.S. Attorney's office will wait to file charges until crime scene analysis from the ATF lab has been received.
Williams said the announcement of Masten as a suspect is not an indictment. He said other suspects might be identified as the investigation progresses.
"If charges come, the U.S. Attorney's office would be the one that would file a charge," Williams said.
He said federal investigators initially were called because of ATF's capabilities and resources in arson investigations.
"When ATF was called in, the [Missouri] fire marshal called them in originally because it was a commercial fire, and they have experts on arson and those types of crimes," Williams said. "They also were called in because we knew lab analysis was going to be needed in some areas."
Williams gave no indication of when Masten may be questioned.
He declined to comment on the specific trigger that transferred jurisdiction from the state to the federal level but said the choice was a joint decision made by all parties Tuesday.
Both Masten and her attorney, Rick Jackson, were unavailable Wednesday for comment.