On Wednesday, February 21, 2024, Governor Glenn Youngkin announced the recipients of the 2023 Governor’s Fire Service Awards during the annual Virginia Fire Chiefs Association Expo and Symposium in Virginia Beach. During the ceremony, the Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Fire Marshal’s Office was awarded the 2023 Excellence in Virginia Fire Services Award for their efforts during an incendiary fire investigation stemming from an incident that occurred in 2017. The Governor’s Fire Service Awards, established in 2002, honor excellence in Virginia’s Fire Service and are facilitated by the Virginia Department of Fire Programs, in partnership with the Virginia Fire Services Board.
In November of 2017, occupants of a single-family dwelling in the 17000 block of Tedler Circle in Round Hill dialed 9-1-1, reporting an odor of gasoline. Loudoun County Fire and Rescue (LCFR) units arrived on scene and found remains of a fire and immediately requested the LCFR Fire Marshal’s Office to respond and investigate. During the course of the investigation, Fire Marshal investigators determined the fire was intentionally set and collected evidence from the scene. The evidence was submitted for examination by the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Forensic Science. At the time of evidence submission, no matching DNA was on file.
On September 16, 2022, investigators were notified by the Virginia Department of Forensic Science that DNA collected from the evidence matched Darrell Seagraves. After obtaining a search warrant, a DNA sample was collected from Mr. Seagraves and re-tested. Forensic evidence, coupled with extensive investigative efforts, confirmed Mr. Seagraves alleged involvement in setting the 2017 fire. Darrell Seagraves was indicted on January 9, 2023, by a Loudoun County Circuit Court Grand Jury for one felony count of burning or destroying an occupied dwelling. On October 19, 2023, Mr. Seagraves plead guilty and was sentenced for his role in the 2017 fire. Judge Sincavage imposed a sentence of five years in prison with four suspended on one felony count of burning or destroying an occupied dwelling (§ 18.2-77).
“I am extremely proud of our Fire Marshal’s Office for their work to bring this case to closure,” said System Chief Keith Johnson. “Thank you to the many agencies who assisted our Fire Marshal’s Office during this investigation, not only to identify the suspect, but for providing the necessary resources to assist in bringing this case to resolution.”
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