The Arsonist Next Door explores the story of convicted serial arsonist Mark Warren Sands, who set fire to multiple homes in 2000 and 2001 in Phoenix, Arizona.
From Sony Music in partnership with Novel, the podcast is hosted by reporter Sam Anderson who goes inside the why behind Sands’ shocking crimes and the complex investigation.
Throughout the season, Anderson dives into the mystery behind a group of alleged eco-terrorists burning down mansions for political and environmental reasons.
While the media piled onto the eco-terror narrative, the true culprit was Mark Sands: a friendly neighbourhood guy and successful marketing executive leading a picture-perfect life until one day everything known about him went up in flames. Literally.
While detectives searched for the radical activists setting fire to homes in the area, their investigation turned friends and neighbours against each other and left massive world-changing consequences in its aftermath.
The series features first time interviews with those closest to Sands, including his best friend of many years, and never before heard recordings from a high stakes undercover operation.
Sam Anderson says: “These fires took place 25 years ago but still have a strong grip on the community.
“The Arsonist Next Door explores a chapter in American history when so-called “eco-terror” was a huge priority for the FBI. But at what cost?
“What truly shocked me about this case, were the real motivations of the culprit, which I never saw coming. And how the actions of one man rippled out to have potentially life altering consequences for thousands of Americans.”
The Arsonist Next Door is available on The Binge, as well as all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
