Billy Stapleton Case Study

Billy Stapleton majored in Geology and Environmental Science and began his career as an Environmental Crime Investigator for the state of Kentucky. There he worked for the state Environmental Crime Unit, where he attended the state police academy and worked with the ECU for 5 ½ years, prior to being recruited by the ATF. So, with the ATF before you can specialize with you must have several years on the job as a street agent, so the first part of his career with the ATF SA Stapleton worked with drugs, guns, firearms, trafficking, thefts from Federal Firearms Licensee’s and explosives theft. When the Certified Fire Investigator Program became available he jumped at it, he had many of the required sciences, chemistry, physics, fluid dynamics. After he became a Certified Fire Investigator he became a member of the National Response Team for the next six years. The National Response Team (NRT), has the capacity to help federal, state and local investigators in assisting with significant arson and explosive incidents, they can respond anywhere in the United States within 24 hours to assist state and local investigators. (2) SA Stapleton though …show more content…
Stapleton testified in was what was termed the Hollywood Arsonist. Harry Burkhart, a German immigrant had a very deep hatred for America, this hatred manifested when he appeared at an immigrant hearing for his mother. During the hearing, Burkhart spoke out during the hearing and shortly after the string of fires began Dec 29, 2011. His main targets were vehicles, vehicles attached to parking structures. Burkhart used zip fire starter logs and affixed them under the engine compartments of vehicles eventually, he was caught on surveillance video and reported to police. A local reserve sheriff’s deputy recognized Burkhart’s car and his walk from previous surveillance and apprehended him, when indicted his defense was insanity. Burkhart was found guilty on 49 counts of arson, the cost totaling 3million