Part of LNU Complex Fire in Solano was arson, investigators say
(Photo by Matthew Keys for Solano NewsNet)
A portion of last year’s LNU Lightning Complex wildfire that tore through north Solano County was deliberately set in order to cover up an alleged murder, the Solano County Sheriff’s Office said on Thursday.
The blaze, which became known as the Markley Fire, was allegedly set by 29-year-old county resident Victor Serriteno as he attempted to burn the body of 32-year-old Priscilla Castro.
Castro’s remains were discovered by authorities shortly after the fire started, and Serriteno was arrested last September on one count of murder.
On Wednesday, officials with the sheriff’s office said their investigation led them to conclude Serriteno deliberately started the wildfire that ultimately merged with the Hennessey Fire. The blaze killed two other Solano County residents.
Earlier this month, Serriteno was formally charged with two additional counts of murder for the deaths of the residents who perished in the wildfire. He also faces a charge of felony arson.
The announcement was made at a press conference attended by television news reporters from Sacramento and at least one newspaper reporter from Solano County. Solano NewsNet was not invited to the press conference and never received a press release that was distributed to other media outlets.
A sheriff’s office spokesperson later said in a Facebook comment that media attendance was limited due to COVID-19 concerns and affirmed Solano NewsNet would receive press releases in the future. The spokesperson did not say whether a pool arrangement was made among attending outlets, which is typical in cases where space and resources are limited. Solano NewsNet was the first to report on the wildfires last year, and this newsletter was initially launched to keep residents informed about the fire’s progression.
The Markley Fire was one of several wildfires to comprise the LNU Lightning Complex wildfire. The initial fire started as the result of a lightning strike in nearby Napa County during a rare summer thunderstorm.
The Markley Fire burned thousands of acres of land and hundreds of homes in the north rural Vacaville area and east of Winters to Lake Berryessa. Another blaze, the Hennessey Fire, burned land in east rural Vacaville along and around Pleasants Valley Road.
The two fires overlapped in some areas, according to a map released by the sheriff’s office on Wednesday. That overlap created additional complications for firefighters who were strained due to the size and speed of the blaze coupled with resource limitations due to the ongoing coronavirus health pandemic.
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