by Edward Humes
Cohen’s review of, for Parks case, 97–99
Daubert test and, 192–94
DNA testing for, 89, 95, 132–33, 188, 220–21
fingerprint analysis, 183–88, 190–92
flashover as, 196–203 (See also Flashover)
National Registry of Exonerations on forensic analysis of, 187, 194–96
suspicion of matches used by Jo Ann Parks, 127, 158
suspicion of matches used by Ronnie Parks Jr., 5, 29–31, 35, 116, 149, 272
uncertainty of forensic analysis, 265–73
windows as, 20, 115, 237–47
Expectation bias. See Cognitive bias
Failed incendiary device. See Incendiary device theory and television evidence
FBI
crime statistics on arson, 199
on Madrid commuter train bombings, 139, 185–88
Plaza case, 193–94
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, 196–200
Fingerprint analysis, 183–88, 190–92
Fire Department. See Los Angeles County Fire Department
Firefighting. See also Los Angeles County Fire Department
attempts to rescue Parks children, 14–25
breathing apparatus needed for, 10
carbon monoxide, 10, 12
flammable items and, 7, 9–10
“nozzleman” position, 23
overhaul procedure, 44–45, 142, 159–60
oxygen as fuel for fire, 10–11
primary search, 31
smoke and smoke detectors, 10–11, 12, 41, 100, 113, 122, 143
Fire science, 51–63. See also Burn patterns; Flashover
backdraft, 161–63
black holes, 53–54
crazed glass and, 53–54, 57, 199
dispute about changing approaches to (See Habeas hearing for Parks)
heat and flame vector analysis, 237–47
house fires, causes of, 7–12
importance of burn patterns to, 55–56 (See also Burn patterns)
Lee case and, 252–53
Lime Street fire (1990) and, 55–57
negative corpus, 127, 145
NFPA 921 (National Fire Protection Association) recommendations on, 57–59, 199, 226
Oakland firestorm (1991) and, 51–55
point of origin, 40, 46
V-patterns, 55–56
Flashover. See also Habeas hearing for Parks; Second fire theory
controversy of, 157, 196–203, 237–47, 254–55, 258
defined, 11–12, 23
indicators of, 245–46
Lime Street fire recreation of, 56–57
Parkses’ Bell home fire events and, 73–74, 145–50
Parkses’ Lynwood home fire events and, 115
Forensic analysis, 183–203. See also DNA testing; Fire science; Incendiary device theory and television evidence
bite-mark evidence, 188–90
Cohen’s review of, for Parks case, 97–99
Daubert test and, 192–94
fingerprint analysis, 183–88, 190–92
of flashover, 196–203 (See also Flashover)
National Registry of Exonerations on, 187, 194–96
uncertainty of, 265–73
Forensic Science Commission (Texas), 200
Franklin, Benjamin, 218
Franklin, William. See also Los Angeles County Fire Department
overhaul of fire scene and, 44–45, 137–41, 155
search for Ronnie Jr. by, 32–33, 44–45
French Academy of Sciences, 218–19
Fuzell, Lester “Fuzzy,” Sr., 137, 155
Galton, Sir Francis, 191, 192
“Gambler’s Fallacy,” 140–41
Garman, Paul, 35–42, 49, 109, 116
Gessler, Charles, 154–63, 166, 171–72. See also Trial of Jo Ann Parks (1992)
Gideon rights, 131
Glass, crazing of, 53–54, 57, 199
Gorbett, Greg
on flashover and ventilation (visual analysis of fire), 237–47
habeas hearing and prosecution’s case, 254, 256–59
on incendiary device theory, 247–50
Guillotin, Joseph, 218
Habeas corpus petitions
defined, 68
Hamilton and Jefferson on, 93
for Parks case, 93, 125–30, 152, 172–80, 214, 250
for Rivera case, 93–94
volume of, 125
Habeas hearing for Parks, 229–50, 251–64
appeals process, 263
Bieber’s testimony, 214, 215, 217, 221–28, 238
Gorbett’s testimony, 237–50, 254, 256–59
Hoback’s testimony, 231–32, 233, 243, 253–58, 260
Jerez’s prosecution of, 251, 253–58, 260–62
judge’s ruling, 262–63, 265–73
Lord’s testimony, 258, 260
Nordskog’s testimony, 258–61
Parks’s views on her habeas hearing, 208–9
Smith on Arson Review Committee report, 232–38
time devoted to, 230–31
venue for, 229–30
Hamilton, Alexander, 125
Hand, Learned, 131–32
Haney, David “Tuxedo Man”
events of fire and, 14–18, 21, 24
search for Ronnie Parks by, 32
witness account of, 46, 255
Hanline, Michael, 135
Hiller, Clarence, 183–85, 191
Hinges, mirroring of, 148, 248, 256
Hoback, Brian, 231–32, 233, 243, 253–58, 260
Incendiary device theory and television evidence
cognitive bias issues of, 137–47, 215, 217, 221–28
Gorbett on, 247–50
Hoback on “sabotaged” wires, 231–32, 233, 243, 257
Nordskog on, 177, 179–80
“octopus” of cords, 137–38, 258
Parks fire investigation and, 48, 71–73, 116, 121–23, 126–28, 143, 145
Parks trial (1992) and, 154–60, 163, 178
India, fingerprinting practice in, 191–92
Innocence projects. See also California Innocence Project
Center on Wrongful Convictions, Northwestern University, 201
Northern California Innocence Project, 221–23
reverse detective work by, 92–93
“Inside” (Parks), 209–11
Jefferson, Thomas, 125
Jennings, Thomas, 184–85, 191
Jerez, Erika. See also Habeas hearing for Parks
early discussions with California Innocence Project, 174–75
Gorbett testimony and, 243–44
Hoback testimony and, 253–58
Smith testimony and, 234–37, 246–47
on state of fire science, 251, 261
Justice Department (US), 139, 196
Kodiak, 234–35
Lake St. Charles Retirement Community, 59–60
Laughing gas, 219
Lee, Han Tak, 252–53
Lentini, John
on Lime Street fire (1990), 55–57, 145
reputation of, 157, 199
Scientific Protocols for Fire Investigation, 256
Lewis, Andrea L., 202
Lime Street fire (1990), 55–57, 145
Lineup identification, 221
Long, Kimberly, 104–5
Lord, Jamie, 258, 260
Lorraine (Jo Ann Parks’s mother)
daughter’s childhood and, 77–78, 81–84, 86
daughter’s incarceration and, 207
Ron Parks and, 109–10, 120
Los Angeles
County Century Regional Detention Facility, 206–7
Los Angeles County Fire Department
Arson Review Committee report (2012), 73–74, 232–38
California Innocence Project and, 67–70, 73
NFPA 921 (National Fire Protection Association) and, 58–59, 199, 226
Parks house fire investigation by, 40–42, 137–41
Parks house fire response by, 14–25
search for Ronnie Parks by, 31–34
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. See also Ablott, Ronald R.
arrest of Parks by, 59–61
Arson/Explosives Detail, 175–80 (See also Nordskog, Edward)
Arson/Explosives Detail investigation, 43–50
Los Angeles County Superior Court, 96–97. See also Habeas hearing for Parks; Ryan, William; Trial of Jo Ann Parks (1992)
Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. See Jerez, Erika; Trial of Jo Ann Parks (1992)
Los Angeles Police Department, 221
Los Angeles Times, on arson industry, 261
Louis XVI (king of France), 218–19
Lowe, Bob
advocacy of Parks following 1992 trial, 172–75
California Innocence Project and reopened Parks case, 67–70, 73
testimony at Parks trial (1992), 154–63, 166
Luna, Albert, 91–95
Luna, Dominic, 90–95
Lynwood home fire (Parks family)
Bell home fire prosecution on, 151
Dodge on, 124
events of and Ablott’s investigation, 111–15
Nordskog on, 176
Madrid commuter train bombings (2004), 139, 185–88
Maniac Latin Disciples gang, 134–35
Marx, Walter Edgar, 188
Maryland, Brady case in, 98
Matches
Jo Ann Parks and accusations about use of, 127, 158
Ronnie Parks Jr.’s behavior with, 5, 29–31, 35, 116, 149, 272
Mayfield, Brandon, 139, 185
McGee, Timothy, 19–24, 256
Mesmer, Franz, 218–19
Miranda rights, 131
Mirroring, 148, 248, 256
Mormon Church (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), 77, 79, 81, 83–84, 271
Morrison, Patt, 261
Mulero, Marilyn, 134–36
National Academy of Sciences, 187, 270
National District Attorneys Association, 58, 196
National Fire Protection Association
on canine alerts, 213
NFPA 921 (1992), 57–59, 199, 226
on scientific method, 226
National Registry of Exonerations, 187, 194–96
Navarette, Manuel Martin, 90–95
Negative corpus, 127, 145
Neufeld, Peter, 133
New York City, house fire (2017) in, 8
NFPA 921 (National Fire Protection Association), 57–59, 199, 226
Nitrous oxide, 219
Nordskog, Edward, 175–80, 217, 228, 237, 258–61, 269
Northern California Innocence Project, 221–23
Northwestern University, 201
“No Walk,” 154
“Nozzleman” position, 23
Oakland firestorm (1991), 51–55
Obama, Barack, 270
“Outside” (Parks), 263–64
Parks, Jessica “Jessie” (daughter). See also Second fire theory
attempts for rescue of, 14–25
autopsy of, 49
discovery of body of, 25, 99, 164–65
Lynwood home fire and, 113
Parks, Jo Ann. See also California Innocence Project; Habeas hearing for Parks; Trial of Jo Ann Parks (1992)
actions during Bell home fire events, 3–6, 9, 38, 120–24
arrest of, 59–61
biographical information, 77–85
California habeas corpus petition for, 93, 125–30, 152, 172–80, 214, 250
characterization of, 3–6, 18, 37–38, 79–80, 84–85, 127–28, 160–63
children’s deaths revealed to, 35–42
Cohen’s research of case, 61, 67–77, 96–106
cough medicine accusation against, 49, 105, 110, 124, 164–65, 168, 215
donations to, 47
Fontana home of, 116–20, 124
“Inside/Outside” (essay), 209–11, 263–64
investigation of (See Ablott, Ronald R.)
Lynwood home fire and, 111–15, 124, 140, 151, 176
marriage to Ron by, 85–86, 107–11, 156
move to Bell by family of, 14
as part of “California 12,” 135
portrayal as “bad mother,” 75, 202–3
prosecution of, 102–4
statement to police by, 27–31
teenage rape and pregnancy of, 48, 83, 118
television interview of, 41, 47
views of, 205–9
Parks, Norma (Ron’s first wife), 109, 110
Parks, Ro Ann (daughter). See also Second fire theory
attempts at rescue of, 14–25
autopsy of, 49
birth of, 102
discovery of body of, 25, 99, 164–65
Parks, Ron, Jr. (son of Ron and Norma Parks), 110
Parks, Ron (husband), 107–24
Bell home fire events, 120–24
children’s deaths revealed to, 35–42
divorce from Jo Ann and death of, 208
Dodge on statements about “getting rich” by, 118, 123–24
donations to, 47
electrician training and related work of, 46, 47, 107
Fontana home of, 116–20, 124
as hostile witness at wife’s trial, 165–68, 171–72
ice cream packing plant job of, 28, 29, 39, 79, 111
investigation of, 59, 71–72
lawsuits against landlords by, 167
Lynwood home fire and, 111–15, 124, 140
marriage to Jo Ann by, 85–86, 107–11, 156
marriage to Norma by, 109, 110
reaction to children’s deaths by, 37–38, 41–42, 47, 162–63, 167, 208, 271
television interview of, 41, 47
Parks, Ronnie, Jr. (son of Ron and Jo Ann Parks). See also Closet barricade theory
attempts at rescue of, 14–25
autopsy of, 49
behavior by, 5, 29–31, 35, 116, 122, 149, 272
discovery of body of, 31–34
Gorbett on flashover and ventilation in bedroom of, 242
mother’s comments about calls for help by, 236
question about playing with matches, 5, 29–31, 35, 116, 149, 272
Parole boards, 94
People of the State of California v. Jo Ann Parks, 68, 136, 267. See also Trial of Jo Ann Parks (1992)
People v. Rivera, 93, 99
Plaza, Llera, 193–94
Police department, Bell (California). See Bell Police Department
Police Department, Los Angeles, 221
Pollak, Louis, 193–94
Pour patterns, 55
Powell, Lloyd Richard, 21, 255
President’s Council of Advisors of Sciences, 187
Primary search, 31
Prosecution. See Trial of Jo Ann Parks (1992)
Repeat offender law (California), 230
Resistance heating, 40
Reuben, Shelley, 215–16
Reverse detective work, by innocence projects, 92–93
Richards, Bill, 95–96, 189–90
Rivera, Jason, 89–95, 104
Rivera, Jennifer, 90
Robison, Bob, 3–6,
14–18, 29, 162
Robison, Shirley
characterization of Jo Ann Parks by, 80, 160–63
events of fire and, 3–6, 15–18
at police station with Jo Ann Parks, 28–31, 37
Ross, Mary, 173, 207, 271
Ryan, William. See also Habeas hearing for Parks
court schedule of, 96, 230
Vargas case and, 97
Samuel, Jerome, 113
Scalia, Antonin, 68–69, 132
Scheck, Barry, 133
Scientific Protocols for Fire Investigation (Lentini), 256
Second fire theory
Ablott’s investigation and theory about, 127, 141, 145
Cohen’s demonstration plans for, 266
cough medicine theory about, 177
flammable liquid theory about, 143
Gorbett’s visual analysis and dispute of, 239–42, 246, 259–60
lack of motive and, 49
Shelton, Donald, 194
Sheriff’s Department. See Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
Simpson, Alex, 190, 233, 237. See also Habeas hearing for Parks
“Six-pack” lineup identification, 221
Smith, David, 232–38
Smoke
danger of, 10–11
smoke detectors, importance of, 12
smoke detectors and Parkses’ use/lack of use, 41, 100, 113, 122, 143
Sommervold, Sara L., 202
Souliotes, George, 221–23
Sperber, Norman “Skip,” 189–90
Takach, Steve, 143, 146
Talbott, William, 137–41. See also Bell Police Department
Teardrop Rapist, 95
Television as evidence. See Incendiary device theory and television evidence
Temperature, in fires, 11
Texas Forensic Science Commission, 200
Three Strikes repeat offender law (California), 230
Trial of Jo Ann Parks (1992), 153–80. See also Closet barricade theory; Cough medicine accusation; Incendiary device theory and television evidence; Second fire theory
California Innocence Project’s habeas petition and, 93, 125–30, 152, 172–80, 214, 250
Dodge as potential witness, 163–65, 168–70
on “incendiary device” (faulty wiring), 126–28, 137–47, 163, 178
jury of, 128, 154, 170–72
Lowe’s advocacy of Parks following, 172–75
Parks’s views on, 207–8
People of the State of California v. Jo Ann Parks, 68, 136, 267
prosecutor’s summation in, 150–52, 170
prosecutor’s views on, 153–54
Ron Parks as hostile witness, 165–68, 171–72
testimony by arson experts during, 154–63, 166, 180
Trujillo, Mario, 128
Trump, Donald, 270