Ken Williams

I remember feeling bad for the wife and the daughter because, you know, I don't think they had any idea.

I remember feeling bad for the wife and the daughter because, you know, I don't think they had any idea.

Most of it was documents and paper, his computer, that kind of stuff, and not physical evidence.

Most of it was documents and paper, his computer, that kind of stuff, and not physical evidence.

One of the things with just generic profiles of arsonists is oftentimes they do get a sexual gratification from the act of starting the fires.

One of the things with just generic profiles of arsonists is oftentimes they do get a sexual gratification from the act of starting the fires.

They said, you can still be the journalist hero while being an actual hero and help us catch him. Nobody needs to know that you helped us.

They said, you can still be the journalist hero while being an actual hero and help us catch him. Nobody needs to know that you helped us.

I would never sell out my profession by helping cops catch somebody who called a journalist to tell their story.

I would never sell out my profession by helping cops catch somebody who called a journalist to tell their story.

No, they would definitely not care about the importance of media in society. That was not these guys vibe.

No, they would definitely not care about the importance of media in society. That was not these guys vibe.

And I'm Ken Williams with the FBI here in Phoenix.

And I'm Ken Williams with the FBI here in Phoenix.

Are you willing to discuss what you hear about the criminal damage? Without an attorney? Yeah. Yeah.

Are you willing to discuss what you hear about the criminal damage? Without an attorney? Yeah. Yeah.

I had a leaked message calling off the dogs. Are you part of the dogs? No, sir.

I had a leaked message calling off the dogs. Are you part of the dogs? No, sir.

Yeah.

Yeah.

You would not put yourself in that area. I care about the environment.

You would not put yourself in that area. I care about the environment.

You went to journalism school? A long time ago. Have you done any journalism work? Any reporting work? Right out of college. Well, I was a radio newsman.

You went to journalism school? A long time ago. Have you done any journalism work? Any reporting work? Right out of college. Well, I was a radio newsman.

Are you calling me a suspect in all those fires? Well, I'm telling you that we're going to investigate... You're not my suspect in all those fires.

Are you calling me a suspect in all those fires? Well, I'm telling you that we're going to investigate... You're not my suspect in all those fires.

Is it possible that you are a member of the group and maybe this is your signal to us that, you know, you're done doing things? I'm not done doing anything except doing stupid pranks like this. Okay, well, I'm just asking. I'm trying to understand, like you said yourself.

Is it possible that you are a member of the group and maybe this is your signal to us that, you know, you're done doing things? I'm not done doing anything except doing stupid pranks like this. Okay, well, I'm just asking. I'm trying to understand, like you said yourself.

Sometimes you think maybe you're being followed. I remember saying to friends that I thought something might be up. And then you wonder if you're just being paranoid.

Sometimes you think maybe you're being followed. I remember saying to friends that I thought something might be up. And then you wonder if you're just being paranoid.

By this point, it's safe to say that James Hibbard is really feeling the heat. I'll never forget a column in the Arizona Republic slamming the interview, which said, the next time this guy burns down a house, it's Hibbard's fault.

By this point, it's safe to say that James Hibbard is really feeling the heat. I'll never forget a column in the Arizona Republic slamming the interview, which said, the next time this guy burns down a house, it's Hibbard's fault.

Every morning I would wake up with this pit in my stomach, this dread of wondering if he burned down another house, if he hurt someone during the night. Because if that happened, look, I would still be able to defend what I did professionally, but privately as a human being, you know, I would have felt horrible.

Every morning I would wake up with this pit in my stomach, this dread of wondering if he burned down another house, if he hurt someone during the night. Because if that happened, look, I would still be able to defend what I did professionally, but privately as a human being, you know, I would have felt horrible.

The headline was, Exclusive Interview with the Preserve's Arsonist.

The headline was, Exclusive Interview with the Preserve's Arsonist.

It's not a democracy. You know, you got to do what the boss tells you to do.

It's not a democracy. You know, you got to do what the boss tells you to do.

I have a confidential human source who was a member of a terrorist organization.

I have a confidential human source who was a member of a terrorist organization.

This guy was making a pretty substantial chunk of change a month because he would give us good information.

This guy was making a pretty substantial chunk of change a month because he would give us good information.

He told me about these two individuals that were going to school at Embry-Riddle University up in Prescott, Arizona.

He told me about these two individuals that were going to school at Embry-Riddle University up in Prescott, Arizona.

My informant told me that these two guys were very much active in recruiting young Muslim males around the world.

My informant told me that these two guys were very much active in recruiting young Muslim males around the world.

I remember the informant telling me specifically, he said, these guys are the real deal.

I remember the informant telling me specifically, he said, these guys are the real deal.

He's standing by his door and he says, come on, I need to talk to you. He pulled me into his office. Ken knows immediately where this is going. These fires were getting out of hand. We thought it was an eco-terrorist group, and it was like all hands were called on deck.

He's standing by his door and he says, come on, I need to talk to you. He pulled me into his office. Ken knows immediately where this is going. These fires were getting out of hand. We thought it was an eco-terrorist group, and it was like all hands were called on deck.

If I'm a heart surgeon, don't ask me to perform lung surgery. I communicated that to the bosses, but it wasn't the boss. I wasn't calling the shots.

If I'm a heart surgeon, don't ask me to perform lung surgery. I communicated that to the bosses, but it wasn't the boss. I wasn't calling the shots.

My brain's fried, man. The heat's getting me. I said the same thing.

My brain's fried, man. The heat's getting me. I said the same thing.

I had to go do what I had to do on the arson case.

I had to go do what I had to do on the arson case.

When I saw the composite sketch, I said, you know, that's me. This witness is describing me. And it stands to reason because I was one of the first ones on the scene.

When I saw the composite sketch, I said, you know, that's me. This witness is describing me. And it stands to reason because I was one of the first ones on the scene.

I'll tell you, I don't know if it was one of our artists or one of the PD artists that did it, but it was a very good picture.

I'll tell you, I don't know if it was one of our artists or one of the PD artists that did it, but it was a very good picture.

We got contacted about this particular female firefighter.

We got contacted about this particular female firefighter.

This could be it. When either a bunch of cops get together or a bunch of firefighters get together and they're going to point the finger at one of their own, you've got to take that very seriously.

This could be it. When either a bunch of cops get together or a bunch of firefighters get together and they're going to point the finger at one of their own, you've got to take that very seriously.

She's made comments about they shouldn't be building along the preserves, that type of stuff. She was off on a lot of the days that these fires took place. So it all started to build up. Sounds promising.

She's made comments about they shouldn't be building along the preserves, that type of stuff. She was off on a lot of the days that these fires took place. So it all started to build up. Sounds promising.

She kind of had like a goofy reputation, outdoor enthusiast, mountain biker. That gets you excited.

She kind of had like a goofy reputation, outdoor enthusiast, mountain biker. That gets you excited.

She gave us some alibi stuff. We told this is a very serious matter. If you're lying to us, we'll put you in jail.

She gave us some alibi stuff. We told this is a very serious matter. If you're lying to us, we'll put you in jail.

My wife was used to it. Her dad was a cop. But she's now an ex-wife, so maybe she didn't get used to it.

My wife was used to it. Her dad was a cop. But she's now an ex-wife, so maybe she didn't get used to it.

— He catches a guy semi-naked in this building under construction masturbating. — Ken rushes down to the station. — When you get something like that, you don't even care about sleeping. Sleep goes out the door. You can go 48 hours without sleep, you know?

— He catches a guy semi-naked in this building under construction masturbating. — Ken rushes down to the station. — When you get something like that, you don't even care about sleeping. Sleep goes out the door. You can go 48 hours without sleep, you know?

It was his fiancée, and it was a suspicious drug overdose. They thought maybe he had something to do with it, but they never proved anything there.

It was his fiancée, and it was a suspicious drug overdose. They thought maybe he had something to do with it, but they never proved anything there.

Obviously, as an investigator, when you see that a person was masturbating in a house that's under construction in the middle of the night, yeah, you take that really serious.

Obviously, as an investigator, when you see that a person was masturbating in a house that's under construction in the middle of the night, yeah, you take that really serious.

He gets sexually excited when he smells fresh cut wood. And he says it's an issue for him.

He gets sexually excited when he smells fresh cut wood. And he says it's an issue for him.

And according to her... Apparently this wasn't the first time he's ever done anything like that.

And according to her... Apparently this wasn't the first time he's ever done anything like that.

He's still a problem, but he's not the arsonist.

He's still a problem, but he's not the arsonist.

We can make your life miserable. Nobody wants to be under the microscope of the FBI, trust me. It is ruthless. I take that responsibility very seriously. So before I unleash the Kraken on you, you know, I got to be very certain that I really think that you're the bad person.

We can make your life miserable. Nobody wants to be under the microscope of the FBI, trust me. It is ruthless. I take that responsibility very seriously. So before I unleash the Kraken on you, you know, I got to be very certain that I really think that you're the bad person.

I want to say it was closer to Christmas, you know, like maybe the 20th of December, somewhere around there.

I want to say it was closer to Christmas, you know, like maybe the 20th of December, somewhere around there.

My wife and kids were concerned about this. Who are these people? Where are they coming from? It's got to be one of our community members. I mean, they know the neighborhood. It was terrorizing the community. There's no question about it.

My wife and kids were concerned about this. Who are these people? Where are they coming from? It's got to be one of our community members. I mean, they know the neighborhood. It was terrorizing the community. There's no question about it.

I was just cooking up some chicken, some steaks on the grill for family, and I see an orange glow reflecting off my backyard window. And I turn around, I go, oh my God, a fire. And I could see the flame shooting up into the sky. And so I called the wife. I said, hey, take over.

I was just cooking up some chicken, some steaks on the grill for family, and I see an orange glow reflecting off my backyard window. And I turn around, I go, oh my God, a fire. And I could see the flame shooting up into the sky. And so I called the wife. I said, hey, take over.

This person to the right of me or to the left of me or behind me or in front of me, I'm sure every other member of the community was having those type of thoughts too. You see somebody filling up their gas can, where are they going with this bucket of gasoline, you know? How do I know they're going to be putting it in their lawnmower?

This person to the right of me or to the left of me or behind me or in front of me, I'm sure every other member of the community was having those type of thoughts too. You see somebody filling up their gas can, where are they going with this bucket of gasoline, you know? How do I know they're going to be putting it in their lawnmower?

So I leave this gate here, and I run up the street here.

So I leave this gate here, and I run up the street here.

Keep going straight. Yeah, keep going straight. So it was up here? Yeah, it's up over here by the red car.

Keep going straight. Yeah, keep going straight. So it was up here? Yeah, it's up over here by the red car.

And as I'm running up this hill, I can see this thing's really igniting pretty fast.

And as I'm running up this hill, I can see this thing's really igniting pretty fast.

And I can hear sirens coming. And you could feel the heat as you were approaching it. Are you running? Yeah, I'm running. Now, other people from the neighborhood are starting to head this way.

And I can hear sirens coming. And you could feel the heat as you were approaching it. Are you running? Yeah, I'm running. Now, other people from the neighborhood are starting to head this way.

I mean, it's going up like a Roman candle. This thing is burning, like, real fast. Acrid black smoke fills the air. There's no way you were going to be able to salvage any part of that thing.

I mean, it's going up like a Roman candle. This thing is burning, like, real fast. Acrid black smoke fills the air. There's no way you were going to be able to salvage any part of that thing.

This is Ken Williams. He was a local at the time of the arson spree, and still lives in the area.

This is Ken Williams. He was a local at the time of the arson spree, and still lives in the area.

Do you want to hear something funny? When my kid brother first visited me out here, and we're getting into the mountain preserves area, he goes, what is this? He goes, is this the landfill? I call it landfill. Oh, my God. No, that's a real mountain, kid.

Do you want to hear something funny? When my kid brother first visited me out here, and we're getting into the mountain preserves area, he goes, what is this? He goes, is this the landfill? I call it landfill. Oh, my God. No, that's a real mountain, kid.

We gave them a good shake. I mean, we went through their knickers big time.

We gave them a good shake. I mean, we went through their knickers big time.