Investigators Say Woman May Be Linked To Other American River Parkway Fires
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Investigators say a woman arrested after a Thursday fire on the American River Parkway may be linked to three other arson cases from last week.
Today's fire broke out along North 16th Street in Sacramento. The trio of fire last week were intentionally set along the American River Parkway.
People living along the American River Parkway are relieved an accused arsonist is behind bars.
"Well, I thought of all the embers coming over—you know, the flaming pieces of wood—and I thought, oh my god, if it hits my porch, my porch is going to go up."
Thick smoke from last week's blaze near Highway 150 filled Cindi Beard's mobile home park. That blaze burned 100 acres before being brought under control.
And on Thursday, another suspicious fire was set nearby. This time, a witness waved down police, saying he saw the suspect standing over the flames just after it started.
Sacramento Police arrested 42-year-old Evangeline Deutsch for arson. Investigators say she could be a suspect in other parkway fires this summer, including several in Rancho Cordova.
"The person says she was possibly bragging about previous fires," said Scott Williams with Sacramento Fire.
Court records show Deutsch was previously arrested for arson in 2010 and is still on probation for that crime. She also has multiple arrests for illegal camping along the parkway.
"Persons who usually do these kind of things will usually do it until they get caught."
And investigators still haven't determined a motive at this point. She'll be arraigned next week.
