Md. Man Charged With Arson In Christmas Morning Blaze

FOREST HILL, Md. (WJZ) -- Bizarre Christmas morning fire. Authorities say that a man with a history of mental illness poured gasoline down the stairs of his mother's home and waited before warning a family with a toddler living in the basement to get out.

Investigator Mike Hellgren spoke to the man who interviewed the alleged arsonist.

He says he immediately confessed to the crime and now faces a slew of charges, including attempted murder.

The fire broke out just before 3 a.m. Christmas morning and ravaged a home on Edwards Manor Drive in Harford County.

The fire marshal's office says 32-year-old Nicholas Lester ignited it with gasoline. He lived in the home with his mom.

"And he spread it from the second floor, down the hallway, down the steps. He ignites that fire, he goes outside and he proceeds just to wait there about ten minutes," said Oliver Alkire, Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office.

His mom rented her basement to a family, which included a two-year-old. Lester used a shovel to bang on the door and wake them up. They all got out OK.

Investigators say Lester then grabbed a chair from the porch, came to the driveway and watched the house burn.

Oliver Alkire soon interviewed him.

Hellgren: "Would you describe his demeanor when you got there and you're trying to get information from him?"

Alkire: "He was cool, calm and relaxed. The suspect has suffered from long-term psychological issues."

WJZ found Lester has faced a slew of charges in the past, including trying to disarm a police officer, which was dropped. Several theft charges were inactive due to incompetency.

Richard Brletich lives next door.

"I really feel bad for his mother. She's such a nice person. She really, really took care of her kids and loved her kids," Brletich said. "And for something like this to happen, it's got to be heartbreaking for her."

A firefighter suffered leg injuries climbing the stairs leading to the second floor. He fell all the way to the basement. The house is now uninhabitable.

"I just pray for her and her family that they can get through this. It's a really unfortunate situation," Brletich said.

Police provided toys to the two-year-old. Lester remains in jail. His mom was visiting her two other sons in New York at the time of the fire.

The fire caused almost $100,000 in damage.

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