Source: Hamilton Journal News – Police sort evidence in arson at dead soldier’s in-laws
I would prefer that this is just a case of coincidence but unfortunately I don’t think that is the case. I hope they find the slime balls and lock em up for a long time. You know, I don’t care if you want to protest the war, but to attack a grieving family is just sick.
Fairfield police have sent evidence to a crime lab in an attempt to gain leads in an arson involving the car of a dead soldier’s in-law a day after the Army private was buried.
Meanwhile, community members have expressed outrage about the incident, Fairfield Police Chief Michael Dickey said Sunday.
Some have offered to provide reward money for Saturday’s acts against the in-laws of Pfc. Tim Hines Jr., Dickey said.
There have been reports of minor vandalism in the area around the Wessel home, 898 Sando Drive, said Dickey.
A number of criminal damaging objects were recovered from those locations, which indicates there may be a pattern to the crimes. One object, an orange cone, was pressed up against the side of Sara Wessel’s car.
She is the sister-in-law of Hines, who was buried Friday.
On Saturday American flags were stolen from the Wessel home and then used to set fire to Sara Wessel’s car.
“We’ve had neighbors who replaced the flags, and a man called me (Sunday) afternoon and he wants to provide guard service,” said Dickey.
Others have called police offering to provide reward money, he said.
At 5:35 a.m. Saturday, Fairfield firefighters and police were dispatched to the home. The fire was quickly controlled, but the insured car was burned beyond repair.
Arson investigators determined flags that had lined the property of the family and neighbors were taken, stuffed under the vehicle and set on fire, police said. Police took the car and other items for evidence, family members said.
Neighbors decided to replace the flags that were burned. By Saturday afternoon, the corner of Sando Drive and Fairfield Avenue was lined in red, white and blue.
Prior to Saturday’s incident, Hines’ father-in-law Jim Wessel said, he and his family have received nothing but support from neighbors and the community since Hines was injured.
Wessel said he has no idea why his family would be targeted at this time, but he would like to know the motives behind the act.
Hines was laid to rest Friday in Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati.
He died of heart failure July 14 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. leaving behind his pregnant wife, Katy Wessel Hines, and a 2-year-old daughter, Lily.
He received fatal wounds from a bomb detonation that struck his three-vehicle convoy along a Baghdad highway on Father’s Day.