OKC family turns to public after arson case goes inactive
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KOKH) — An arson investigation into a May fire that destroyed an Oklahoma City family’s home has been closed as inactive after investigators ran out of leads.
The family is now raising money for a reward, hoping new information will help reopen the case.
“This was gonna be our final home till we pass,” Jim Dougherty said. “The grandkids loved it.”
Oklahoma City police records list the May 11 fire as felony arson. The records show the fire damaged multiple rooms inside the home, where Dougherty and his wife had lived for about nine years.
Dougherty said the family lost its home, belongings and a place where their grandchildren spent time.
“Everything’s gone,” he said. “It’s a shame that somebody would just walk into our home and torch it up and leave it like that, just like nothing happened.”
The Oklahoma City Fire Department’s arson unit collected five videos during the investigation, according to the department.
An investigator said the videos placed a person in the vicinity but did not establish probable cause for an arrest.
OKCFD said the case was closed as inactive on Aug. 19 after investigators exhausted their leads. The case can be reopened if authorities receive new information.
Dougherty said he did not learn the case had been closed until Friday and he has not spoken with investigators since the day of the fire.
The family is raising money for relief and in hopes of offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information that could help identify the person responsible.
“We just want justice,” Dougherty said. “We just want some answers.”