LOWVILLE, New York (WWNY) – A state fire investigator has testified that he decided a Lowville apartment house was deliberately set on fire because he ruled out all other possible causes.
Edward Stevens’ testimony continued Thursday morning. His testimony in Shawn Exford’s murder-arson trial in Lewis County Court began Wednesday.
Stevens testified that after eliminating all four apartments, he determined the fire started in the common hallway. It was the only location in the building that reached what fire investigators call “flashover,” meaning the entire room, floor to ceiling, ignited.
Stevens also used photo evidence to explain how the investigation ruled out all possible natural or accidental causes causes. Those included heating systems, electrical issues, spontaneous heating and chemicals, weather, and smoking materials.
Stevens said the only thing “that can’t be taken off the table, is the introduction of flame or spark, with human involvement or intention.”
He showed photographic and video evidence to back up his claims.
The prosecution showed two videos. The first was surveillance video showing the fire starting and a man walking out of the apartment building, followed by a flash of light from flames.
The second was video taken by a passerby. It showed where the flames were coming out of the home.
After a 45 minute break, Stevens’ was then cross-examined by Defense Attorney John Hallett. He asked Stevens’ about the weather on the night of the fire, and asked why the home’s code violations weren’t taken into consideration during the investigation. Stevens’ has experience in code enforcement.
Hallett then asked why a complete electrical investigation throughout the entire building wasn’t done. Stevens’ responded and said it wasn’t necessary, as the investigation found the origin of the fire was confined to the common hallway.
Next up on the witness stand was Steven Ahrendt. Ahrendt, from New Jersey, owned the home at 7525 South State Street.
Ahrendt testified he purchased the home in 2005, and initially learned of the fire from a resident who escaped. He says he had last been to the home in October 2019. He testified that during that visit, there were working smoke detectors in at least one apartment he checked.
Victim Brian Mushtare was the next witness.
He lived in the apartment building on South State Street and was rescued from the fire. He testified he was a good friend of victim Catherine Crego’s, going upstairs to her apartment, “over hundreds of times.”
On the night of the fire, Mushtare testified he was drinking and watching music videos with Crego, Shawn Exford, Saratina Kilbourne, and others. He said at some point during the night, Exford went to his apartment to grab movies for them to watch. He said about fifteen minutes later, while he was cooking, Crego noticed a burning smell.
Mushtare said when he opened the door to the stairs, there was a wall of flames. He testified he and Catherine dropped to the ground, but couldn’t remember if victim Saratina Kilbourne had as well. Without being able to see because of the smoke, Mushtare says he found a table foot, broke the window, and climbed out onto the porch roof. He said he grabbed Crego to pull her out as well, but was hit by a cloud of black smoke. He said he lost his grip.
Minutes later, Mushtare was rescued from the roof. He says when he got down, he saw Exford, holding the movies, and another man, Jason Griffin, who asked why he didn’t save Crego and Kilbourne. Mushtare testified Exford gave him a hug.
He said that night, no one appeared to be intoxicated, and there were not arguments or altercations.
Mushtare also acknowledged the apartment building was known for being a “meth house.” He was aware people would go to one of the vacant apartments and do drugs.
Next, New York State Police Investigator Joseph Simpson took the stand. He was called to the scene after there was indication there may have been meth making material at the property. Simpson testified there was only one material found that indicated meth making in the vacant apartment.
He concluded the fire was not started from a meth lab explosion, as there was not enough meth making materials found.
During cross examination, Hallett argued in the new age of meth making, people are able to carry materials in backpacks rather than keep them in one location.
The last witness to take the stand was Lowville Academy employee Ted Bach. Bach was walking his dog the night of the fire, and was shown in the surveillance video presented to the jury. He says he saw a man leave the house, acknowledged him and his dog, and walked past him, jogging across the street. Bach says he was unable to identify the man, and didn’t recognize him.
Court was dismissed at 2:35 p.m. Testimony will continue Friday morning at 9 o’clock.
Exford is charged with arson and murder in connection with a fire at 7525 South State Street in 2019 that killed two people and injured another.
He faces a total of 13 charges.
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