Allston serial arsonist returns

ALLSTON, Mass. -- A car went up in flames early Sunday morning in Allston, an area that has seen several suspicious car fires in recent months.

There have been several weekend arson fires in cars in the neighborhood dating back to September.

The serial arsonist had not been heard from in weeks but it appeared he returned Sunday.

The pickup truck was torched early Sunday morning outside a home on High Gate Street. The car’s owner warned the rest of the house when he saw the flames.

“I heard him yell from the window, so everybody ran down stairs and we talked to Ryan and Ryan was obviously devastated,” said Kendall Mantey, a resident of the neighborhood said.

“We were all afraid because we have so many trees around here and those big pine trees will light on fire like that,” said Mantey.

Sunday’s arson marks the sixth intentionally set car fire in the same neighborhood since August.

“I was asleep upstairs when my roommate came up and got me and said Ryan, Ryan, your car is on fire and I woke up and I didn’t know what was going on,” said Ryan Piccirillo, the most recent arson victim.

Ryan’s truck was towed away. It was a total loss.

Piccirillo said he had heard about the arsons but thought it was all over.

“My mom had told me about them. She told me to be safe and watch out and sure enough I wasn't the next one,” said Piccirillo.

Fire officials say it is obvious that the same person is responsible for setting all the fires.

“It fits the pattern for several other arson, vehicle fires we’ve had in the neighborhood,” said Steve McDonald of the Boston Fire Department.

All of the fires took place early in the morning and on weekends.

The last incident occurred in late September. That morning three cars were set on fire; at least one was torched while police and fire fighters were in the neighborhood.

Investigators believe the arsonist is taunting them.

“Investigators have been here countless times at all hours of the day and night and there have been no injuries in any of these fires but it is still a dangerous game this person is playing,” said Steve McDonald.

Investigators said that all the cars that have been targeted have been left unlocked.

In September, police said they almost made an arrest when they saw a suspicious man leaning next to a car and chased him. He managed to get away but they did recover a backpack. Inside they found a screwdriver, flashlights and some lighters.

Victims thought the worst was over and that the arsonist may have stopped his crime spree but they were surprised to hear about the latest car fire.

“I thought he might have been scared and apparently not you know, he’s going to try to do it again,” said Jeff Intinarelli, a victim of the arsonist in September.

There was one witness outside early Sunday morning that got a look at the suspect but the description was generic.

Fire and police said that patrols would continue in the area.

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