MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas – Montgomery County investigators say a fire that started in a Magnolia department store in July was arson and may have been part of a botched robbery attempt.
"That is the most likely scenario, but we're not exactly sure what they were doing," investigator Kevin Bates said.
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The fire started on July 3 at about 9:45 p.m. in the rear corner of the Ross store.
Several months later, investigators have arrested and charged Jon David Fletcher, 26, of Magnolia, who is now free on bond. But his alleged accomplice was never arrested and is now considered a fugitive, according to Bates.
"We're not exactly sure where Brian Van Orman is," Bates said.
Brian Jacob Van Orman, 27, was charged with arson and forgery. The forgery charge stems from a separate case.
Van Orman lived in Magnolia for a while, investigators said. But Van Orman may now be in another part of Texas, perhaps near Austin, officials said.
"The scariest part about it is there were customers in the store," Bates said.
Store surveillance video shows two men entering the Ross department store. One of them is carrying what appears to be a drink container. In fact, it was filled with gasoline, Bates said.
"That was the fuel along with some clothes they grabbed throughout the store," Bates said.
It appears the men never demanded any money.
"They asked for the manager several times before the fire, but she never came around. Once the fire got going, it may have scared them off," Bates told Local 2.
If you have information about Van Orman, call Montgomery County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-392-STOP.