Between 1980 and 2005, a serial arsonist terrorized neighborhoods throughout the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. In 2005, Thomas Sweatt was arrested and eventually confessed to over 340 arson-set fires that killed 4 people. Investigators named him the "most prolific and dangerous serial arsonist in American history."
Dozens of authors, TV producers, and movie producers tried to contact Thomas in prison but were all unsuccessful. Only Jonathan Riffe was able to break through. For three years, Jonathan wrote and talked regularly to Thomas. This is his story in his words a story of arson and murder, law and order, philological deviance, crime and punishment, and the terror of fire. The story of one man.
Jonathan Riffe has been involved in the fire service since 1996 and is a firefighter with the Annapolis Fire Department. He is a past Lieutenant with the Washington DC Fire Department and past Chief of the Huntingtown Volunteer Fire Department. He is an adjunct instructor with the University of Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute. Jonathan has written several articles that have been published in Fire Engineering Magazine and Firehouse Magazine. He was a contributing author in the book, Pass It On: The Second Alarm. Jonathan lives in Maryland with his wife Carrie. His passions include fishing, crabbing, and traveling.