John Leonard Orr
John Leonard Orr (born 1948 or 1949) is an American convicted serial arsonist, mass murderer, and former firefighter. A fire captain and arson investigator in Glendale, California, Orr was convicted of serial arson and four counts of murder; he is believed to have set nearly 2,000 fires in a 30-year arson spree, most of them between 1984 and 1991, making him the most prolific serial arsonist in American history.
John Leonard Orr | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1948 or 1949 (age 74–75) |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | The Pillow Pyro |
| Occupation(s) | Fire captain, arson investigator |
| Criminal status | Federal: Transferred to CA custody in 2002 State: Incarcerated at California State Prison, Centinela |
| Conviction(s) | Federal: July 31, 1992 State: June 25, 1998 |
| Criminal charge | Federal: Arson State: First-degree murder, arson |
| Penalty | Federal: 30 years State: Life plus 21 years (nine years vacated on March 15, 2000) |
| Details | |
| Date | October 10, 1984 |
| Country | United States |
| State(s) | California |
| Location(s) | Pasadena |
| Weapons | Incendiary timing-device |
Date apprehended | December 4, 1991 |
| Imprisoned at | California State Prison, Centinela |
During his arson spree, Orr had several nicknames "The Pillow Pyro" due to the location of the fires inside shops, the "Frito Bandito", and the "coin-tosser." Orr's modus operandi was to set fires using an incendiary timing device, usually comprising a lit cigarette with three matches wrapped in ruled yellow writing paper and secured by a rubber band, in stores while they were open and populated. He would also set small fires in the grassy hills in order to draw firefighters, leaving fires set in more congested areas unattended. He would sometimes be part of the firefighting crew that investigated the fires.