Man arrested in Richmond Hill arson investigation

RICHMOND HILL, Ga. (WSAV) – A man has been arrested in connection with an arson investigation in Richmond Hill.

“When it went, it went well. I mean, it was burning black smoke,” said Donald Daniel, who lives near the house that caught fire Friday.

Just a few days later, on Tuesday, 28-year-old Thomas Adam Spigner Barrack was arrested for first-degree arson.

When News 3 spoke to people who live in the area, they said a burgeoning homeless population in the woods behind their homes could be a possible cause.

Some believe homeless people lived in the burned building, which had been abandoned for years.

“All the doors were wide open. The place had been searched. The garage door was open. “All the stuff was taken outside and I told the police,” Daniel said.

“We have seen people loitering there over the months. “We suspected there were people there,” he continued.

Daniel wonders if this could have something to do with the fire.

“There were three of them, three of these homeless people, sitting at the door of Dollar General. They asked, “Can you give us something?” “Our house just burned down and we lost everything,” he said.

Richmond Hill police told News 3 their officers and Richmond Hill firefighters were on scene when the fire first broke out, but turned the investigation over to the Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Fire Safety when they suspected foul play .