ST. LOUIS – St. Louis police are asking for the public’s help in locating a potential arsonist after a home was destroyed.
Investigators are looking for 60-year-old Timothy Scott Cowee, who is charged with setting a home in the 4300 block of Fairview Ave. on fire several times. According to police, the fires damaged neighboring residences.
“Unfortunately, that’s one of the definitions of arson—they enjoy doing it,” Chief Dennis Jenkerson said. “The psychopathological side of it, whether they like the arson and like the fire, and in some cases they like the sound of the sirens, they like to see the lights, they like to see the firefighters working, so it depends on what side of the medical illness we’re looking at.”
Residents find the news alarming.
“It’s a shame; it’s the fourth time and it’s sad,” one neighbor said.
The latest fire at the location was May 18, when the detached garage was set on fire. Cowee confessed and told police he set the fires as he enjoyed seeing firefighters respond, according to court documents.
“Sometimes when they set these buildings up, we will be in there fighting a fire and one of the places they set has not lit yet while we are in there will light behind us so there are…so there’s various reasons that we keep a good eye out,” Jenkerson said.
Police are still searching for Cowee and it remains unclear if he’s connected to any other house fires. Anyone with information is urged to contact CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS (8477).
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