5: Dealing in Flames : Fire and False Hands

In this episode, we dive deep into the fire investigation surrounding David’s death. According to Minnesota statutes, the state fire marshal (SFM) must be contacted in any fire-related death to determine the cause and origin of the fire. But when reviewing the SFM’s and Plymouth Fire Department’s (PFD) conclusions, cracks start to appear.

The SFM claims David used the electric stove as the ignition source, but how plausible is that? How could David have thrown a towel on the stove and engulfed himself in flames in mere seconds? Why would he discard a more efficient ignition source—a lighter, which was mentioned multiple times by Ms. X, but was conspicuously absent from the official reports? And why did a Senior HC Attorney reference this missing lighter months after David's death, despite it never being documented?

We examine the bizarre gaps in the fire investigation, like the untouched items around the stove, the pristine oven mitt, and oil spill patterns that suggest the fire’s origin wasn’t even near the stove. Independent fire expert Steve Forren’s analysis challenges the official narrative, pointing to the sink area as the likely origin, where David may have been positioned when oil was poured over him.

We also uncover startling inconsistencies in the way the fire alarms, open windows, and David’s supposed standoff with police were handled. Why was evidence so carelessly—or deliberately—overlooked? Was David really in control of his actions during the fire, or was this a carefully crafted cover-up to obscure what truly happened that night?

Prepare for a hard-hitting breakdown of the fire investigation’s many flaws, as we explore whether this was just another misstep or a deliberate attempt to stack the deck against the truth.