Texas Arson Hotline Call IDs Pair in Sorority Fire

A phone call to the Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office Arson Hotline helped fire investigators identify a young man and woman who were believed involved with a fire set inside a University of Texas at Austin sorority.

The Insurance Council of Texas reported that the caller also notified authorities that the pair may be headed to Mexico. Warrants have been issued for the two.

On March 7, Austin firefighters were called to the Alpha Chi Omega house near the university campus. A sorority member reported a couch on fire in an unoccupied room. Security cameras later revealed one of the suspects entering and leaving the house and departing in a Jeep. That vehicle with a male and female suspect was later spotted south of San Antonio. Both suspects were seen dyeing their hair and spray-painting the Jeep.

The suspects, Marcus Navarro, 21 and Hayley Mullane, 20, have been charged with first degree arson, a felony punishable by up to life in prison. The fire caused minor fire and smoke damage inside the house.

The Arson Hotline number is 1-877-4-FIRE-45 (1-877-434-7345). The Arson Hotline is answered seven days a week, 24-hours a day and every caller remains anonymous. Calls that lead to legitimate arrests may result in a reward.

The Arson Hotline is funded through ATAC, A Texas Advisory Council on Arson. ATAC members include fire, police, industrial and insurance representatives who are concerned about arson in Texas.

The Insurance Council of Texas (ICT) provides the administrative support in keeping ATAC operational on a daily basis. ICT staff members also publish and distribute the ATAC newsletter and work closely with the State Fire Marshal’s Office in responding to calls from the Arson Hotline.

Source: ICT