Prosecutor wants tips connecting dots in 2017 birdseed factory arson

WELLINGTON — Some hot leads are needed to solve the cold case arson at the nearly 150-year-old Wagner/POV birdseed factory three years ago. Investigators haven't given up on finding the culprit. In the last few weeks, the Wellington Fire District has renewed its promise of a $5,000 reward for information leading to a conviction. "We're trying to get it out there in front of people," Assistant Fire Chief Bill Brown said. "There's still quite a few leads that came up initially, with some suspects." Only a small percentage of arsons is ever resolved with a conviction. But Brown said he has hope, and the Lorain County Prosecutor's Office is still on the case. "We've gone over the evidence several times and we've tried to run down several leads," county Prosecutor Dennis Will said Wednesday. He said his office is intensifying the investigation and has brought an explosives expert on board to help. Anyone who has knowledge of what happened — whether firsthand or secondhand — should call the tip in to (440) 328-2352. "I think every arson is a difficult case but like any case you have to start with what you have and work toward it," Will said. Silos at North Main and Depot streets in Wellington went up in flames in the early hours of Sept. 17, 2017. The four-alarm fire drew crews from as far away as Amherst and Vermilion to help battle the blaze. They worked shoulder-to-shoulder with firefighters from the village and surrounding townships — 16 departments in all — but the birdseed factory on the CSX tracks was a complete loss. Brown said there were two other fires that night, and part of the investigation has been piecing together whether or how they might be related. "From the first hour, we had people that we needed to be talking to, and we have. The police department has done quite a few interviews, as has the state fire marshal," he said. The problem with arson cases is that physical evidence is often destroyed, Brown said. It's clear, however, that the blaze was intentionally set and what remains to be done is connecting the dots. Contact Jason Hawk at (440) 329-7122 or news@lcnewspapers.com.