Who is Karson Nutter? Teenage firefighter arrested in connection with series of arson incidents caused by 'boredom'
YAVAPAI COUNTY, ARIZONA: A young fireman from northern Arizona was detained last week in relation to a string of recent arson attacks that the smoke eater is accused of starting out of "boredom." According to the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office, Karson Nutter, 18, of Ash Fork, admitted to igniting at least seven of the eight fires that broke out in Ash Fork and Coconino County since June 15.
Nutter, an Ash Fork Fire Department volunteer fireman, said he started the fires out of "boredom, retaliation against a former employer, [and] chasing a thrill," according to investigators.
According to the authorities, four of the arsons included structural fires.
ASHFORK ARSONIST CAUGHT: IS AN ASHFORK FIREFIGHTER for full release visit: https://t.co/uuuTYI9PU2
— Yavapai Co Sheriff's Office (@YavapaiSheriff) July 21, 2023
See this Instagram post by @ycsoaz https://t.co/L3oBL4W1RD pic.twitter.com/MTIkQyob9W
Nutter admitted to targeting abandoned homes
Out of the eight fires, two were abandoned homes in Kaibab Estates West in Coconino County. According to investigators, Nutter admitted to targeting "some abandoned homes for being 'ugly'" during his confession. According to the sheriff's office, deputies got a complete confession from Nutter on Thursday night about his involvement in at least seven of the eight fires.
Officials said that Nutter's claims contained 'deceptive and misleading information'
Nutter is accused of starting four fires in Ash Fork, two of which happened at the neighborhood Mobil gas station and the other two broke out at a Yavapai county-owned cemetery. Authorities did not say which of the four town fires the kid did not confess to, but they said that the teen admitted to three of them. According to the sheriff's office, Nutter, an Ash Fork, Arizona, fireman emerged as a prominent suspect during initial interviews for the inquiry. Officials said that Nutter's claims contained "deceptive and misleading information."
What are the charges against Nutter?
Nutter admitted to starting all four fires in Coconino County, including two flames on Forest Service Road 124 apart from the two abandoned residences. According to jail records, Nutter was formally arrested at the Yavapai Detention Center just after midnight on Friday. Three charges of setting a structure on fire, one act of aggravated criminal damage, and five counts of making false reports to the police led to Nutter's arrest and booking into the detention facility of the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office. Additionally, Coconino County is expected to charge more. His bond was set at $2 million on Friday, according to a court database, as reported by CNN.
