Caesar Cipher Arsonist Arrested
Rockford Hills, Los Santos - On May 6th, 2024 SANFIRE Law Enforcement made an arrest concerning the then ongoing investigation into Los Santos Serial Arsonist known as the Caesar Cipher Arsonist later identified as San Fierro local Natasha Barnes was arrested and charged with five counts of FA. 301 Arson after a year-long investigation across multiple incidents of intentional fire setting.
On February 27th, 2023, SAN FIRE attended a structure fire at the Tower Way Utility Station, the first of many Incidents concluded to be arson across the East Los Santos area, with target spots being La Mesa, Cypress Flats, Murietta Heights, and the LS Port with one reported incident breaking away from the M.O or modus operandi under the Olympic Freeway in Strawberry with a vehicle fire.
Tower Way, Cypress Flats, Strawberry and Elysian were all targets. (Credits: G. Stone)
Barnes first interacted personally with SANFIRE speaking with then PR Deputies Turner and Jorgensen. Enquiring about arson cases as a civilian during Lieutenant Governor Noah Wade's swear-in at the State Capitol, West Vinewood on March 1st 2023. This would fuel later communication with SANFIRE, taking a personal liking to mention the aforementioned duo in her M.O. - Leaving graffiti in a mixture of Ceasar cipher and other ciphers as well as typewriter written notes to communicate with investigators.
The next incident deputies would respond to was a hardware store situation on El Rancho Boulevard, Cypress Flats on March 8th, 2023 where the arson case would take a dangerous turn with two Los Santos Fire Department firefighters injured in fire suppression efforts after falling through the roof of the building. Said firefighters have since made a full recovery. However, the incident highlights the importance of acting swiftly to ensure people's safety - This incident was also the first in which she communicated with then-Deputy Turner.
Natasha Barnes' (far left, background) first encounter with deputies, captured on the SANFIRE Social media page.
After March 8th, with SAN FIRE deputies still investigating. Barnes or, 'The Cipher', as she named herself seemed to go inactive for a period and disappear from the investigator's radar completely, with Barnes declared a person of interest it is understood at this time she traveled back to San Fierro, where she was known to SANFIRE's San Fierro unit due to arsons in their locale before the Los Santos incidents. This was also made clear to investigators in prior notes found at El Rancho and Tower Way respectively.
During this period, the case was closed with no further leads - It seemed Barnes had finished with her time of activity. However, in the middle of the night of June 13th, 2023, SAN FIRE received an interdepartmental call from the Los Santos Fire Department regarding a vehicular fire under the Olympic Freeway which firefighters along with the Los Santos Police Department were in attendance. On first arrival, there was nothing to suggest that this had anything to do with their now-declared serial arsonist. However, on investigation, evidence found that Barnes declared she was still out there and very much still interested in pursuing, what she would later state was 'a game' with arson investigators.
This would be the first and only time Barnes would deviate from her known Modus Operandi - Leaving no form of communication with investigators other than graffiti.
Sometime during the Summer, Barnes would then become involved in another then-Deputy Fire Marshal and also local journalist Gabriel Stone, a media partner of SANFIRE and the Los Santos Fire Department - Communicating outside her arsons. The first mistakes she made in her activities as investigators began tracking her activities outside of incidents.
Firefighters tackle the Murrietta Heights fire (left) and Deputy Fire Marshals apprehend Barnes. (right)
Eventually, Barnes' activity resurfaced on February 2nd, 2024, and became more dangerous at a structure fire on Plaice Place, Elysian Island next to her old employer of IMEX at an Aurum substation. Firefighters were forced to play defensively and Aurum was contacted to shut off the grid in the area, from this incident onwards Barnes began to change the cipher used in her messages - it was known that she also gave Journalist Stone a different cipher from that that was offered to investigators at this point.
Fast forward to May 4th, 2024. Another fire would be reported in a similar area of East Los Santos on the Murietta Heights oil field of a structure fire. This would be Barnes last arson as investigators closed in on her after Stone reported that she had no longer ditched her phone as she had done prior - Leading Deputy Fire Marshals and the Arson Prevention Team to the Rustic Tavern in Morningwood where she was detained under a forty-eight-hour investigative hold.
In the evening, SAN FIRE Public Relations held a subsequent joint press conference with the Los Santos Fire Department's Community Liaison Office's Community Liaison Officer Sage Fowler and Public Information Director Calvin Serrano at LSFD's Station 52, Rockford Hills - Confirming to media the current situation regarding the investigation and take question from media partners.
The Arson Prevention Team, in conjunction with Deputy Fire Marshals, executed a warrant on multiple vehicles.
On May 6th, the investigation finally reached its conclusion with the Arson Prevention Team in conjunction with Deputy Fire Marshals and state partners at San Andreas' State Parks Maritime Enforcement Team executed a warrant targeting multiple vehicles owned by Barnes, in Morningwood - Deputy Fire Marshals found evidence tying Barnes to the multiple incidents when they uncovered phosphorus as well as phosphate being stored in the presumed vehicle that was being used in the attacks as an accelerant along with several spray paint cans in Moringwood.
A tugboat was also targetted in Banning, confirmed to be Barnes' residence and makeshift workshop where she was planning her attacks, recovering a typewriter believed to be used to create the notes used to communicate with investigators as well as materials used to create the makeshift fire starters. Barnes was subsequently interrogated under Miranda and explained her motivations for the attacks.
"For over a year, San Fire, in collaboration with multiple Law Enforcement agencies and members of the community, has been diligently investigating a series of arson incidents that have threatened the safety and security of our great State. The arrest of the individual responsible for these heinous acts represents a monumental milestone in our collective effort and promise to protect our community and uphold the law.
I am immensely proud of the tireless dedication and unwavering commitment demonstrated by every member of San Fire through this lengthy and complex investigation. From the brave Firefighters of our partners at the Los Santos Fire Department who responded to the scenes of every devastating fire, to the skilled investigators who meticulously pieced together evidence, the forensics that analyzed the evidence, and the administrative staff who provided crucial support behind the scenes, each and every individual within our departments played an integral role in bringing this case to a successful resolution.
I would also like to extend our deepest gratitude to our law enforcement partners, as well as members of the public who provided valuable tips and information that aided in our investigation. It is through collaboration and cooperation that we can achieve such a significant outcome.
While we celebrate this victory today, we must also remain vigilant in our ongoing efforts to prevent and combat arson in our community. The safety and well-being of our residents will always remain our top priority, and we are committed to working tirelessly to ensure that San Andreas remains a safe and thriving place for all who call it home. In closing, I want to express my sincere appreciation to everyone involved in this case, from our dedicated firefighters and investigators to our law enforcement partners and the residents of Los Santos. Your collective efforts have made a tangible difference in our community, and I am honored to serve alongside each and every one of you." Division Chief Luke Barrett said in a statement to SANFIRE Public Relations.
Barnes was formally arrested by SANFIRE Law Enforcement on the evening of 6th May. and has been booked for five counts of FA 301. Arson.
Natasha Barnes was booked into the San Andreas State Prison and has pled guilty to all charges.
We'd like to extend our thanks and appreciation to our agency partners in the Los Santos Police Department's forensics division, San Andreas State Parks' Maritime Enforcement Team (MET), and our media partner Gabriel Stone of Los Santos Insider for their cooperation.
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