DNA Links Jailed Man To Country Club Fire
FT. LAUDERDALE (CBS4) - A Ft. Lauderdale man has been charged with burglary and arson after DNA evidence recovered from a Pompano Beach country club after a fire put him at the scene of the crime.
According to the Broward Sheriff's Office, the evidence recovered pointed to 56-year old James Mathis who they found in their main jail for an unrelated arrest by Ft. Lauderdale police.
Just after 4 a.m. on the morning of September 14th, 2010, Broward Sheriff's deputies and Pompano Beach fire crews were sent to the Palm Aire Country Club after a 911 caller said there were shooting out of the clubhouse. After firefighters doused the flames they realized the fire had been set in an attempt to cover up a crime. The building's office had been ransacked the business and the safe had been opened; the thief stole liquor and money before setting the fire.
"Why would they rob the safe at this time of year when there's no business," asked club member Sandy Winston at the time. "The safe must have been empty. These guys had to have a big disappointment. It wasn't in season."
The fire was contained to the office area and the rest of the club was relatively undamaged. At the time, the space was being rented by a company which caters to Canadian retirees.
Two days after the Palm Aire Country Club fire there was another burglary and arson at 2601 W. Atlantic Blvd. in Pompano Beach. Sheriff's investigators said they don't believe Mathis was involved in that incident.
