Story Archive

Where There’s Smoke...

After a boathouse in New Richmond, Wisc., was burned down by an arsonist, deputies simply followed footprints in the snow to find the arsonist. “The tracks angled every ten feet or so,” one wrote in his report, “as if the suspect was turning around and checking behind him.” When they found the end of the trail at the home of John Michael Haag, 55, Haag volunteered that he walks his dog on that path — before they even told him where the fire was. Haag, who had previously been vocal about not liking the boat house, denied involvement in the fire until he noticed deputies saw two gas cans with open nozzles, and said they’d be back with a search warrant. Then he allegedly said, “It was me, I did it, I started the fire.” Haag is charged with arson, and faces a fine of up to $100,000, and up to 40 years in prison. (RC/St. Paul Pioneer Press) ...“That much? That long? Can I retract my confession?”