Search continues for suspect in mansion arson

The accompanying photo from the Governor's Office shows the extent of some of the interior damage to the mansion following the fire.

As the arson investigation continues, the Texas Crime Stoppers organization is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for the fire. And in a turnaround from a position stated the morning after the fire, State Fire Marshal Paul Maldonado said at a Monday press conference that officials now believe the crime could have been politically motivated.

"It is likely that feelings of anger may have motivated his crime," said the fire marshal of the suspect in the crime. "He may be known to get angry and express strong opinions about the government, Gov. Perry himself, the death penalty, the renovation of the mansion or other political issues." Maldonado said the suspect's feelings of "anger and frustration" would be noted by the people who know him.

Maldonado described the person shown on video from a surveillance camera tossing something at the mansion's front door, which then exploded into flames. He said the suspect appears to be a white male, approximately 5'9" to 6'1" in height, wearing what appears to be a ball cap, a dark shirt, work-type gloves, blue jeans or cargo-style pants and dark footwear.

He also said the suspect is obviously physically fit, as he was able to "scale a barrier into the mansion grounds, throw an incendiary device with enough force to cause it to create a fireball and flee the scene in the dark without being apprehended or injured."

Maldonado said investigators are turning now to the public to help identify the suspect. "People out in the public know this suspect," said the fire marshal. "He was out that night, unaccountable in the late night/early morning hours of Saturday and Sunday."

The fire marshal also had a message for the suspect, saying law enforcement and fire officials are concerned for the suspect's safety. "Experimenting with incendiary devices is very dangerous. You put yourself and others close to you at risk for a cause which could be pursued via far less dangerous means."

He urged the suspect to contact authorities. "We appreciate the fact that you chose to set fire to an unoccupied building at night when risk to others was lower. And we will not forget that. Right now you have control over how this can be resolved."

Maldonado said investigators are confident they will identify the suspect and urged him to come forward, even noting that the courts and society "look a lot more favorably" upon individuals "who realize their mistakes and then come forward on their own."

Anyone with information on the crime or the suspect is urged to call Texas Crime Stoppers toll free at 1-800-252-8477.