ARSON - 2 Teenagers, caused the death of 14 people - millions of dollars destroyed property

CBS/AP December 7, 2016, 3:56 PM
2 juveniles charged over East Tennessee wildfire that killed 14 

SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. - Authorities have charged two juveniles for starting an East Tennessee wildfire that killed 14 people and destroyed or damaged more than 1,700 buildings.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, local District Attorney General James Dunn and Great Smoky Mountains National Park announced charges at a news conference Wednesday. 
Dunn said the juveniles face aggravated arson charges for the fire in the Chimney Tops area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Nov. 23. The fire spread to the Gatlinburg area, causing widespread damage. They’re being held in the Sevier County juvenile detention center.
They said the juveniles are from Tennessee, but not Sevier County. Officials said state law prevents releasing more information about them.  The investigation is ongoing and more charges could come. They said it’s possible they would move the case into adult courts.
The trouble began when the arson-induced wildfire spread from the national park into the Gatlinburg area as hurricane-force winds toppled trees and power lines, blowing embers in all directions.  
More than 14,000 residents and visitors in Gatlinburg were forced to evacuate, and the typically bustling tourist city was shuttered.
Deputy Park Superintendent Jordan Clayton said the initial fire on an area called Chimney Tops, a double peaked ridge line about 4 miles away from Gatlinburg, was caused by a person or people. It started near the end of a popular hiking trail on Nov. 23.


Karyssa Dalton, a 19-year-old whose grandmother Pamela Johnson remains missing in the blaze, said the two should be held accountable, even though they’re young.

“I mean, what if somebody came through their town, and set their town on fire, and lost their loved ones, and lost all their homes?” Dalton said. “It’s not fair.”
On Wednesday, Gatlinburg residents and business owners were allowed to move back into homes and establishments permanently. They had been allowed to visit during daytime hours since last Friday.

The city is slated to open to the public on Friday morning. Though swaths of the city were decimated, the main downtown strip appears to have been spared. 
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/2-juveniles-charged-gatlinburg-east-tennessee-wildfire/

sassy wrote:I think the clue is in 4Ever's post:


What's to be done with 2 minor's?  They very well may be charged as ADULTS, but what punishment should be adjudicated for such horrific actions as this?

eddie wrote:

sassy wrote:I think the clue is in 4Ever's post:

What's to be done with 2 minor's?  They very well may be charged as ADULTS, but what punishment should be adjudicated for such horrific actions as this?

Ah ok.
Hmmm when it's a case of minors I still think the harshest punishment is the best one.

On February 1, 2007 Governor Bredesen issued an executive order directing the TDOC to review the manner in which the death penalty is administered. All executions were put on hold. On April 30, the department delivered revised death penalty protocols to Governor Bredesen. The moratorium was lifted on May 2, 2007. On September 12, 2007 Daryl Keith Holton became the first person to be executed by electrocution since 1960. - See more at: https://www.tn.gov/correction/article/tdoc-death-penalty-in-tennessee#sthash.PLTHdT3E.dpuf

Lord Foul wrote:Hmmm,  Is it possible to be subject to the dp even in America for what in reality is negligent manslaughter. Surely murder could not be proven in this case? As you say Quills input will be interesting.

sassy wrote:How did they manage to track them down to find out they were the culprits, any idea?

4EVER2 wrote:

sassy wrote:How did they manage to track them down to find out they were the culprits, any idea?

No, and not even a WHISPER from my dear friend that had to flee from her home!  The local authorities just turned this horrifying event right over to the TBI {Tennessee Bureau of Investigation} and the local law enforcement have managed to keep a lid on any gossip/rumors {so far} ...but there are so many people closely related in these smokey hill regions! 
Word of mouth about the young men and their names will soon be sliding out to the media ...because someone with a AXE TO GRIND will want their names published for all to read.

Raggamuffin wrote:What did they set fire to and for what purpose? I think it depends on the motive really.

Sources: Teens playing with matches started East TN wildfires
Posted 4:45 pm, December 9, 2016, by Eryn Taylor

GATLINBURG, Tenn. — The teens who were arrested for starting the East Tennessee wildfires that killed 14 people and damaged thousands of homes and businesses were playing with matches.

According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, the 17 and 15-year-olds are friends and live in Anderson County. They were hiking on the Chimney Tops trail when they began tossing matches. An image was reportedly captured of the teens walking away from the scene with smoke in the background. Their clothing helped identify them.

The 17-year-old is also the son of an Anderson County Sheriff’s Office employee.  Neither of them have been identified at this time.

Both teens have been charged with aggravated arson. Charges stemming from the fire deaths are pending.

In all 14 people were killed and thousands of homes and businesses were damaged as a result of the wildfires.

http://wreg.com/2016/12/09/sources-teens-playing-with-matches-started-east-tn-wildfires/

So read the opening article and play catch up ...I'm interested in your input here, buddy!

sassy wrote:I think the clue is in 4Ever's post:


What's to be done with 2 minor's?  They very well may be charged as ADULTS, but what punishment should be adjudicated for such horrific actions as this?

WhoseYourWolfie wrote:

sassy wrote:I think the clue is in 4Ever's post:
What's to be done with 2 minor's?  They very well may be charged as ADULTS, but what punishment should be adjudicated for such horrific actions as this?

Compulory sterilisation, (re: nicko's earlier post, above..), would be a good starting point..

Prevent them from breeding.

Well, there is a lot to be said & truth behind your sentiments regarding those 'hill folks'...my dear internet buddy used to remark about so many of her neighbors being married to 2nd & 3rd cousins  

That fixing a family ancestral tree for the newly weds, just meant making a photo copy and a few white out editions!

Original Quill wrote:U. S. Supreme Court banned the execution of juveniles in  Roper v. Simmons, 543 U.S. 551 (2005).  The Court held that  held that the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments forbid the execution of offenders who were under the age of 18 when their crimes were committed.

Compulory sterilisation is permissible, but narrowed.  In  Skinner v. Oklahoma, 1942, the Court limited the legal situation by ruling against sterilization of criminals if the equal protection clause of the Constitution was violated. That is, if sterilization was to be performed, then it could not exempt white-collar criminals.  "Ahem, Mr. Trump, would you step forward please?"

I do sympathize.  But I also wonder if the lust for revenge isn't coloring opinions here.  Do we want to see these children suffer because of what they intended, or because of the consequences and the destruction involved?

Well, you do bring an interesting point into this horrific event; were these two Fuckwits totally devoid of any thinking knowledge regarding the 'BURN BAN' that was in effect for all of that region '?' - were one or both mentally impaired and shouldn't have been allowed any flammable making device EVER '?' - was one teenager the promoter of the ingenious thing to do and the other just a FOLLOWER '?'    

4EVER2 wrote:

WhoseYourWolfie wrote:


Compulory sterilisation, (re: nicko's earlier post, above..), would be a good starting point..

Prevent them from breeding.

Well, there is a lot to be said & truth behind your sentiments regarding those 'hill folks'...my dear internet buddy used to remark about so many of her neighbors being married to 2nd & 3rd cousins  
That fixing a family ancestral tree for the newly weds, just meant making a photo copy and a few white out editions!