Obama supporter's house burns down- Arson?

[alienlovechild 75]

Federal officers helping in Forsyth fire investigation

FBI agent assigned to case

By Julie Arrington

Times regional staff

POSTED Jan. 23, 2009 12:01 a.m.

CUMMING — Authorities have not determined whether a suspicious weekend fire that destroyed the home of a Barack Obama supporter was arson.

In addition, they still are investigating graffiti someone spray-painted on a fence along the Lanier Drive property. The vandalism included a racial slur and the phrase, “your black boy will die.”

Forsyth County Fire Marshal Steve Anderson said investigators still were trying to determine the cause and origin of the Sunday morning blaze, which occurred while the owner was in Washington for the presidential inauguration.

He said investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives would join the fire investigation at the site later on Thursday.

No suspects have been named or ruled out, according to Anderson. He said the FBI has been notified about the graffiti, and he’s waiting to hear from the agent assigned to the case.

The homeowner, Pam Graf, left for Washington on Friday but returned late Monday. Her three children, ages 11, 14 and 17, did not travel with her, staying instead with family over the weekend.

Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office records show that Graf has been involved in at least nine incidents since September 2006. Those reports range from her home being burglarized to complaints against her of shoplifting and criminal trespassing.

In addition, she and an incarcerated ex-boyfriend have accused each other of harassing communications, sheriff’s reports show.

Anderson said Graf’s past is being taken into consideration.

Graf’s father, William Morrow, has said she removed an Obama campaign sign from her yard about a week before the fire after she received a threatening letter.

Sheriff’s records do not indicate that Graf reported either the letter or missing sign to authorities.

The fire occurred about 4:30 a.m. Sunday. The five-bedroom, nearly 3,000-square-foot home is insured, Morrow said. County tax records list the total value of the home at $255,490.

Neighbors have said Graf’s home was for sale up until a few weeks before the fire, though that could not be confirmed.

The foundation and what appears to have been part of the front of the house are all that’s left of the structure.

Morrow, a longtime resident of the county, and others, including the Anti-Defamation League and local Democratic Party, have said the incident doesn’t represent the community.

Despite its strong Republican leanings, Forsyth County is home to many Obama supporters. The president received about 20.4 percent of the county’s vote in the Nov. 4 presidential election.

http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/archive/13898/

[one...two...tree 2,762]

hmmm

[Peikko 1,575]

Probably the work of the ex boyfriend.

[Danno 1,228]

Wonder if the house payment was current?

as it was reportedly up for sale unsuccessfully Prior.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Wonder if the house payment was current?

as it was reportedly up for sale unsuccessfully Prior.

Well, she's probably black so what do you think?

[Danno 1,228]

Wonder if the house payment was current?

as it was reportedly up for sale unsuccessfully Prior.

Well, she's probably black so what do you think?

Why do you jump to that conclusion?

Liberals... always thinking in Color.

[lucyrich 20]

Since there are so many Obama supporters, it's not surprising that, out of all the house fires that happen, some of them happen to Obama supporters. I'll bet that some of the houses that have burned down in the US during the past month belonged to McCain supporters, too.

The graffiti certainly suggests something other than a random electrical fire. If it was arson, the investigation will uncover that.

But even if it was arson, was the arson motivated by politics? There are an awful lot of Obama supporters who went to the inaguration and came back to an intact house. Why was this one different? Could it have been motivated by something else? Someone who's been involved in 9 incidents with the sherrif, and who has an incarcerated ex-boyfriend, just might have some sort of issues of interest other than simply being an Obama supporter.

Not jumping to conclusions here.

[alienlovechild 75]

Probably the work of the ex boyfriend.

Someone who's been involved in 9 incidents with the sherrif, and who has an incarcerated ex-boyfriend, just might have some sort of issues of interest other than simply being an Obama supporter.

Look at the big brains on Cleo and Lucy.

Well, she's probably black so what do you think?

They're as white as you can get.

Forsyth officials suspect homeowner in arson

Investigators arrest boyfriend in fire; woman also faces drug charges

POSTED Feb. 5, 2009 12:34 a.m.

CUMMING — A woman arrested on drug charges Wednesday has also been named as a suspect in the Jan. 18 fire that destroyed her five-bedroom home near Lake Lanier.

Pamela Morrow Graf, 47, of 8075 Lanier Drive was arrested early Wednesday morning by the Forsyth County Fire Explosives Investigative Unit. Graf is being held without bond in the Forsyth County Detention Center, jail records show.

She has been charged with possession of less than 1 ounce of marijuana, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of a Schedule 3 narcotic and possession of a Schedule 4 narcotic.

The fire that destroyed her home was ruled arson less than a week after it happened.

Forsyth County Fire Marshal Steve Anderson said Graf was arrested as a result of evidence found when investigators searched her vehicle Wednesday. "At this point in time she’s been listed as a suspect (in the arson)," he said.

Investigators have arrested Graf’s boyfriend, 46-year-old Steven Edward Strobel of Barrow County, in connection with the fire.

Strobel, who was arrested at his home, faces charges of obstruction of justice and providing a false statement.

Charges stemming from the blaze could be brought against Graf within the next couple of days, Anderson said.

Graf reportedly left Jan. 16 for the presidential inauguration in Washington, D.C., and returned late Jan. 19.

She has maintained she was targeted because of her support for President Barack Obama.

Graf said she had found a threatening note in her mailbox shortly after the New Year’s Day holiday.

She said she didn’t notify authorities because she didn’t take it seriously, though she did remove an Obama campaign sign from her yard.

Forsyth County tax records value the 3,000-square-foot home in northeastern Forsyth at $255,490.

http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/article/14391/

Edited February 5, 2009 by alienlovechild

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Since there are so many Obama supporters, it's not surprising that, out of all the house fires that happen, some of them happen to Obama supporters. I'll bet that some of the houses that have burned down in the US during the past month belonged to McCain supporters, too.

The graffiti certainly suggests something other than a random electrical fire. If it was arson, the investigation will uncover that.

But even if it was arson, was the arson motivated by politics? There are an awful lot of Obama supporters who went to the inaguration and came back to an intact house. Why was this one different? Could it have been motivated by something else? Someone who's been involved in 9 incidents with the sherrif, and who has an incarcerated ex-boyfriend, just might have some sort of issues of interest other than simply being an Obama supporter.

Not jumping to conclusions here.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Wonder if the house payment was current?

as it was reportedly up for sale unsuccessfully Prior.

Well, she's probably black so what do you think?

Why do you jump to that conclusion?

Liberals... always thinking in Color.

They always do. So typical.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Wonder if the house payment was current?

as it was reportedly up for sale unsuccessfully Prior.

Well, she's probably black so what do you think?

Why do you jump to that conclusion?

Liberals... always thinking in Color.

They always do. So typical.

You don't wonder why someone would ask whether the house payment was current - because the house was taken off the market prior to the fire...?

Its a depressed market - noone can sell!

[Saddle Bronc 124]

...Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office records show that Graf has been involved in at least nine incidents since September 2006. Those reports range from her home being burglarized to complaints against her of shoplifting and criminal trespassing.

In addition, she and an incarcerated ex-boyfriend have accused each other of harassing communications, sheriff’s reports show.

Anderson said Graf’s past is being taken into consideration.

Graf’s father, William Morrow, has said she removed an Obama campaign sign from her yard about a week before the fire after she received a threatening letter.

Sheriff’s records do not indicate that Graf reported either the letter or missing sign to authorities.

...

http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/archive/13898/

Given the nine incidents, another option (stageing, à la Tawana Brawley) jumps first here....

[Danno 1,228]

Wonder if the house payment was current?

as it was reportedly up for sale unsuccessfully Prior.

Well, she's probably black so what do you think?

Why do you jump to that conclusion?

Liberals... always thinking in Color.

They always do. So typical.

You don't wonder why someone would ask whether the house payment was current - because the house was taken off the market prior to the fire...?

Its a depressed market - noone can sell!

I actually missed the part about the Black kid.. but from the families other problems... and the unsuccessful try at selling the place, I figured there was something up with the house fire.

And trying to link it to Barack is something only the media would take serious.

And naturally Some on the left are fixated on color to the point that any comment about a person they perceive to be black would have to be born of racism.

Here I am going to go out on another limb with a unfounded guess. (and because she is white, it's ok)..... this woman has smoked Crack on more than one occasion.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Wonder if the house payment was current?

as it was reportedly up for sale unsuccessfully Prior.

Well, she's probably black so what do you think?

Why do you jump to that conclusion?

Liberals... always thinking in Color.

They always do. So typical.

You don't wonder why someone would ask whether the house payment was current - because the house was taken off the market prior to the fire...?

Its a depressed market - noone can sell!

I actually missed the part about the Black kid.. but from the families other problems... and the unsuccessful try at selling the place, I figured there was something up with the house fire.

And trying to link it to Barack is something only the media would take serious.

And naturally Some on the left are fixated on color to the point that any comment about a person they perceive to be black would have to be born of racism.

Here I am going to go out on another limb with a unfounded guess. (and because she is white, it's ok)..... this woman has smoked Crack on more than one occasion.

Well obviously - given that the authorities are trying to figure out whether or not arson was involved.