MassLive.com reports today:
Anthony P. Baye, 25, pleaded innocent Tuesday to arson, two counts of murder and burglary and was ordered held without right to bail in Northampton District Court in connection with a series of fires Dec. 27 that claimed two lives.
According to Northwestern Assistant District Attorney Michael A. Cahillane, state police stopped Baye on the morning of the fires in the Crescent Street area. Cahillane said Baye told police that he was in the area visiting his girlfriend. Police later questioned Baye at length and disproved his alibi, Cahillane said.
Baye ultimately admitted to police that he had lied about visiting his girlfriend and had set a porch fire at 17 Fair St. that claimed the lives of Paul A. Yeskie Sr., 81, and his son, Paul A. Yeskie Jr., 39, according to Cahillane.
Cahillane also said surveillance cameras recorded Baye in the area at the time of an apparent nine arson fires in the Ward 3 neighborhood of the city…
See also:
Northampton Media: “Arrest Made in Arsons” (1/5/10)
Baye’s most recent post showed that he had joined the facebook group Friends of Northampton Arson Victims.
WGGB: “No bail for Northampton arson suspect” (1/5/10)
Anthony P. Baye, 25, of 85 Hawley St., was arrested around 8 p.m. Monday at the Northampton Police Station…
On the night of the fires, police had allegedly seen Baye downtown and then again at a fire scene on Crescent Street, according to the commonwealth, which alleged he showed signs of being drunk. Baye had allegedly told police he was in the area to see a girlfriend, but she didn’t live there and a lighter was allegedly found on his person.
Gazette: “Chief says ‘basic police work’ led to arrest in arson case” (1/5/10)
Authorities are not yet saying whether they believe Baye is responsible for any of the other fires that struck the Wards 2 and 3 on Dec. 27.
They are also not saying whether there are other suspects in the fires…
Baye is a 2003 graduate of Northampton High School. His family has lived in Ward 3 of Northampton for many years.
Gazette: “A City on Edge: The 2009 Northampton arson fires”
Use of Security Cameras to Combat Crime; Privacy Concerns Addressed (1/3/10)