An investigative report filed by agents of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation 

To: Special Agent in Charge, Charlotte Division
VN: 7415D5-97-0008
Date: October 24, 1996 

This report relates to the examination of a structure fire at 101 Wall Street, Tabor City, North Carolina 28463. The fire took place on October 20, 1996, at about 3:57 a.m. The examination took place on October 20, 1996 and October 22, 1996. 

SYNOPSIS OF INCIDENT

On Sunday, October 20, 1996, at approximately 3:57 a.m., a fire was reported to the Columbus County 911 Center. The location of the fire was 101 Wall Street, Tabor City, North Carolina. The structure is a single family, two story home which was involved in fire when the Tabor City Volunteer Fire Department arrived. 

The resident, Terri Hinson, was present at the time of the fire. Two of Hinson's children were also present, Joshua Hinson, 17 months old, and his sister, Brittany Hinson, 4 years old, were also present at the time of the fire. Terri Hinson escaped the structure, Brittany and Joshua were rescued by fire fighters. Joshua was later pronounced dead at Loris Community Hospital. Brittany was airlifted to University of South Carolina at Charleston Medical Center, Children's Hospital. Fire Chief Jerry Watts and Police Chief Robert Wooster requested the assistance of the State Bureau of Investigation and subsequently ATF in determining the origin and cause of the fire. 

PARTICIPATING FIRE INVESTIGATORS

An examination of the scene was initially conducted by North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Matt White, on October 20, 1996 under a North Carolina District Court Search Warrant. On October 22, 1996 Special Agent White and ATF Special Agent Frank Malter jointly examined the scene with consent and the participation of Terri Hinson. 

WITNESS REPORTS

Witness reports revealed the fire was reported to the Columbus County 911 Center at 3:57 a.m. by Terri Hinson. The Tabor City Police and Fire Department was dispatched at 3:57 a.m. First arriving police officers observed smoke emanating from the gable on the second floor of the house. Police officer Robert Moyer made an attempt to rescue the children by entering the front door and going upstairs. Near the top of the stairs Moyer experienced heavy smoke and some heat and returned to the first floor living room area and met Hinson and Police Officer Russell. Moyer and Russell exited the house and checked the perimeter. In the rear of the house they observed fire through the roof in the area of a vent pipe. First responding firefighters found smoke emanating from the gable vent of the attic facing Wall Street upon their arrival at 4:00 a.m. Firefighters entered the house after being appraised of the location of the children. The first firefighter entered the front door, ascended the stairs and entered the first bedroom on the left where he located Brittany on the floor and removed her from the house. Firefighter Jeff Graham passed the first firefighter exiting with Brittany. Graham entered the house and ascended the stairs. Graham searched Brittany's bedroom and then searched the third bedroom, Terri Hinson's bedroom. After completing searches of these bedrooms, Graham entered Joshua's bedroom and located and removed him from the crib and exited the premises. 

The house is jointly owned by Michael Jones and Richard Wright. The structure was insured by U.S. F & G. for $30,000.00. The house is rented by Rodney Strickland with Terri Hinson and the children listed as tenants under the last name of Strickland. The house was rented by Strickland in May of 1996. 

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

The house is a two story, three bedroom, wood frame structure with brick veneer on the first floor and wood clapboard covering the exterior of the second floor. The structure is about 55 years old. The roof is "A" framed, tongue and grove pine boards covered with tar paper and asphalt roofing shingles. The second floor ceiling and walls were constructed of wood frame, covered with painted tongue and groove boards. 

SCENE EXAMINATION

Assistance in origin and cause determination was requested by the Tabor City Police and Fire Departments. An exterior examination of the scene disclosed the only fire damage was a hole burned through the roof in the area of a vent pipe. Heavy smoke sooting fr6m the gable vents and between the wood clapboards covering the second floor was also observed. The first floor consisted of a living room, kitchen, and laundry area. Light smoke and water damage was observed throughout the first floor. Paint blistering from the heat of the fire was observed on the landing area of the second floor. No fire damage was observed outside Joshua's bedroom, the room of origin. The hollow framed bedroom door was open at the time of the fire and about one foot of the wood veneer was burned away at the top. On the far right wall was the crib the victim was recovered from. The crib sustained radiant heat damage and no direct flame contact. The chest of drawers located on the back wall, between the two windows, received only radiant heat damage to the side exposed to the closet. The ceiling exhibited fire damage approximately three feet from the double door, closet located on the left side of the room. The floor covering exhibited a circular burn pattern consistent with the right closet door. The interior of the closet exhibited the greatest fire damage to include a hole which burned through the tongue and grove ceiling, ceiling joist and roof of the house. 

One electrical outlet was located in the closet wall away from the area of origin. The outlet box was metal and had nothing plugged into it. Examination of the outlet box and conductors did not reveal any internal heating. 

A painted wood shelf extended the length of the closet above the level of the electrical outlet and metal closet rod. 

FIRE PROGRESSION TO OTHER STRUCTURES

None. 

CONCLUSION

The area of'origin of the fire was determined to be the closet of Joshua's bedroom. The point of origin was the right side of center below the closet shelf. All accidental causes in the area of origin were eliminated. This was an incendiary fire, intentionally started by person or persons unknown. 

NUMBER OF FATALITIES AND/OR INJURIES

Fatalities: - Hinson, Joshua Cade, W/M, Date of Birth, May 10, 1995. 

Injuries: - Hinson, Brittany W/F, Date of Birth, September 10, 1992. 

[signed]
Matthew A. White
SBI Special Agent-- CFI 

[signed]
Frank J. Malter
ATF Special Agent -- CFI