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nbclosangeles.com
Rickie Lee Fowler
An arsonist convicted on five first-degree murder counts in connection with the deadly 2003 Old Fire above San Bernardino was sentenced Monday to death.
Judge Michael Smith confirmed the sentence, recommended by a jury in September, for Rickie Lee Fowler. The judge had the option of life in state prison without possibility of parole.
Five men died after heart attacks suffered during evacuations forced by the 91,000 acre fire. Fowler was convicted in August on the murder counts and two arson counts.
The Old Fire was one of several wildfires that burned in California in October 2003. Fowler fell under suspicion when witnesses reported seeing a passenger in a van toss burning objects into dry brush. Investigators interviewed Fowler several months after the fire, but did not have enough evidence to file charges until six years after the fire.
Fowler was already in prison on a burglary conviction at the time charges were filed. The van's driver was later shot and killed in an unrelated incident.
The Old Fire also damaged more than 1,000 homes.
"Today, after nearly ten years, justice has now been secured for the victims and their families, and those whose lives were affected by the actions of Rickie Lee Fowler," said San Bernardino District Attorney Michael Ramos.
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you mean this guy gets death because 5 cheeseburger eating old fat guys died of a heart attack from running away from a fire. ?? I must have missed something.
Excuse me, but it sounds to me like you are blaming the victims, Warren. These men should of been burned to death to hold this man accountable for his actions, is that what you're saying? They could have had heart attacks due to smoke inhalation, come on, that is just stupid! When this man committed his crime he did not care if anyone was hurt. I am not saying he deserves the death penalty but my God you took a lot for granted by what you said.
Well he'll probably get it cuz he's white, unlike the black cnut that just got a last minute stay.
Good. Anyone who causes that much damage through arson should get the death penalty anyway. The collateral deaths are the nails in the coffin. People worked and saved to get those homes, so it is fitting this creep will lose everything he ever had for destroying them intentionally.
So you believe it's okay to kill someone over property damage? Or maybe if you just don't like them, then that's also a good reason, right?
PEDECOOK - YES I DO feel it is OK to kill someone who PURPOSELY sets fire to peoples homes. Imagine if it was YOUR family? If someone set fire to my house on purpose i'd be calling for his head! 5 People died because of what he did so YES he deserves to be killed.
I've always been a little uneasy about the fact that California is still a "death penalty" state, but because this punishment has been used so infrequently and reserved for the worst of the worst criminals, I was able to look the other way. However, now that California has sentenced a wildfire arsonist to death, I no longer approve of this State's use of the death penaltly. I am by no means condoning this individual's actions. However, there is not conclusive evidence that the suspect premeditated the murders of the men he is now charged with as a result of his actions. The death penalty, if used at all, should be saved for the most heinous of crimes, not for property damage which resulted in the onset of fatal heart attacks in five men hundred of miles away. Some may argue that they don't want their tax dollars to pay to keep him in prison. So what this all boils down to is greed and an "eye for an eye" type of mentality. If the state of California chooses to kill this man, then the blood of one of our own will be on all of our hands.
I've always been a little uneasy about the fact that California is still a "death penalty" state, but because this punishment has been used so infrequently and reserved for the worst of the worst criminals, I was able to look the other way. However, now that California has sentenced a wildfire arsonist to death, I no longer approve of this State's use of the death penaltly. I am by no means condoning this individual's actions. However, there is not conclusive evidence that the suspect premeditated the murders of the men he is now charged with as a result of his actions. The death penalty, if used at all, should be saved for the most heinous of crimes, not for property damage which resulted in the onset of fatal heart attacks in five men hundred of miles away. Some may argue that they don't want their tax dollars to pay to keep him in prison. So what this all boils down to is greed and an "eye for an eye" type of mentality. If the state of California chooses to kill this man, then the blood of one of our own will be on all of our hands.
PDECOOk You are an idiot. I hope you never get caught in one of these things and find out just how horrific they are. People who do these acts are evil just s bad as a person who does any other evil act. And yes your property is worth their life if they destroy everything some one has worked for all their life let alone all the misery they have caused everyone of their victims.
PDECOCK, so you think that because he didn't know those men were in the woods that somehow he shouldn't be guilty of murder?
It's not about tax dollars, nor it is about Greed. it's about MURDER. He killed those men, and deserves to be punished for it.
If you cause an accident in your car that kills someone else, are you no less guilty because you didn't mean it?
Janine,
Not because he didn't know them but because he may not have forseen the outcome of his actions. It would be difficult to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he knew what would happen.
And yes, if someone were in a fatal car accident (keyword "accident") they shouldn't be put to death. for it. There's a reason our judicial system differentiates between manslaughter and premeditated murder.
Is the death penalty on the table for illegal aliens who caused wildfires when they set signal fires to let their accomplices know to pick them up, or when they camped out in the woods?
Why not?
Let us not forget that Not all of the Laws in America apply to Illegal Aliens when we have someone sitting in the Oval Office with the power of executive orders.
screminmimi - Why don't you site an example of where that has happened?
Wow! That judge must be a Texan. Wonder what he would have recommended for the lady in TX that butchered all of the old women for her crack habit? Public disembowlment?? This country needs more tough judges!!
As it should be, arsonists should get the death penalty automatically. In California the death penalty is misnamed it is in reality a life without parole sentence. California has many mass murderers on death row that should have been executed a long time ago instead of wasting time, s[pace and money that should be better used elsewhere!
This is California. The underlying reason he got the death penalty is because they uncovered evidence that he voted Republican in back to back elections.
Little you know about California, Most of the state is red, but, is controlled by 6 to 8 cities which are blue. The rest of us are screwed.
Love it or leave it. I was raised in New York City and moved to Florida in the 70's and I love it. They tax the tourists not your income
First off, this guy won't be executed as California hasn't killed anyone in years. Secondly, because of the unique nature of this case, it is unlikely to be upheld on appeal - there are just too many complications. If the state were smart and wanted to save money they would have sentenced this guy to life with no parole.
Maybe, just maybe someone will think twice about setting a fire. I feel sure everyone in that tinder dry area had been warned of the huge fire danger. How do you young punks know the 5 men were old fat McDonalds customers. YOUR POSTS ARE A SAD COMENTARY.
Fowler's time to burn in Hell!
A-b-o-u-t Time!!! Finally an execition of someone that really doesn't belong here in the first place. I personally feel that these executions should be made available for publically viewing on TV to educate the public what not to do. Perhaps he can be one with mother nature as there is always a need for fertilizer.
Totally agree with you, rick-2068735. Executions should be much more liberally awarded for heinous behavior and they should be open to the public in huge public squares and on TV. Great value to discourage perpetrators. Executions should be carried out within 1 year of the sentence allowing time for no more than 1 appeal to save taxpayers the millions of $ of useless appeals. None of this foot-dragging by appeals courts. Also save the taxpayers the 40 to 50 K per year to house their worthless asses. If my relatives died in that fire, I would demand to be the one to kick the stool out from under that murderer's feet on the scaffold. It's called justice, something this country seems to have forgotten. If they are guilty they need to hang. Period.
But they'll never do the execution in California - he'll be alive and appealing forty years from now. So - how about putting him in the middle of an old growth forest in shackles and set it on fire, same as he did? All he has to do is outrun it....
I am not sure the death penalty is warranted in this case, the 5 men may have had heart conditions that were or were not related to the fire however I do believe life in prison w/o parole is appropriate. He is not much different than a serial killer or rapist, in that he enjoys setting fires and most likely it won't be his last. These people are dangerous and he has a prior criminal record. What he did is bad enough but what he is likely to do future may escalate.
I am unsure of the age of this young man ( not that that is an excuse ) It does not state his age at the time of the crimes. There were previous crimes so I am sure that he was no angel.I am SHOCKED at the attitude of those who are referring to the heart attack victims as "5 cheeseburger eating old fat guys" If one of those deceased was my dad believe me the law would be hard pressed to get to you before I do! My condolences to the families of the VICTIMS , and to the family of the punk as well. It kind of seems like the arsonist is getting off easy. He only has to die once. I know what it is like to be a family member of a victim.
Salem had the answer. For your last meal how about a stake!