Anatomy of Murder: "The Fire (Jeffrey Asa)"

Podcast: Anatomy of Murder
Hosts: Anna-Sigga Nicolazzi & Scott Weinberger
Episode Date: December 9, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Anatomy of Murder explores the tragic case of a 2011 house fire in Binghamton, New York, that killed 17-year-old Jeffrey Asa and nearly destroyed his entire family. Over a decade, investigators wrestled with unanswered questions, limited evidence, and enduring grief—until a chance tip and careful police work brought long-awaited justice. Through interviews with key players like prosecutor Lucas Finley, hosts Anna-Sigga Nicolazzi and Scott Weinberger dissect the multi-layered investigation, human drama, and courtroom challenges of a case where a random act of arson had fatal consequences.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Incident: A Deadly House Fire

• Timeline of the Fire

  • Date: March 17, 2011
  • Location: 21 Milford Street, Binghamton, NY
  • The Asa family was asleep when the fire broke out around 3:00–3:30am ([04:03]).

• Family in Peril

  • In the house: Maureen (mother), her five children (including twins Jeffrey and Jacob, both with autism), and ex-husband Will in an in-law suite ([04:34]).
  • Neighbors tried to help before firefighters arrived ([05:03]).
  • Dramatic rescue attempts included neighbors bringing ladders and daughters escaping onto the roof.

• Tragic Outcome

  • Jeffrey Asa was separated during the escape attempts, likely trying to exit by the familiar front door. He did not survive ([09:39]).
  • Ariana, his sister, fractured her hip jumping from the roof to escape ([09:08]).

2. Early Investigation and Community Impact

• Initial Evidence and Eyewitnesses

  • A neighbor saw a chair on the porch as the fire started, anchoring the timeline and point of origin ([10:38]).
  • Multiple accounts helped pinpoint the porch as the blaze’s starting point ([11:03]).
  • Discovery of another fire 25 minutes later at a nearby house suggested a potential serial arsonist ([14:19]).

• Physical Evidence Elusive

  • The complete destruction of the house meant key evidence like accelerant traces could not be recovered ([12:18]).
  • Unusual observations: neighbors reported gas cap doors open on nearby vehicles, reinforcing the idea of human involvement ([13:04]).

3. Shift to a Criminal Investigation

• From Accident to Homicide

  • Investigators concluded the fire started at the recycling bin on the porch, making it an arson ([15:59]).
  • Under New York’s felony murder statutes, causing a death during the commission of a felony (here, arson) is treated as murder, regardless of intent ([19:28]).
  • Maureen, Jeffrey’s mother, became a proactive figure, pressing for justice ([20:19]).

• Search for Suspects

  • Police looked at family, then neighborhood troublemakers, but nothing panned out ([22:28], [24:47]).
  • The parallel fire lessened the likelihood of a targeted attack, pointing to a more random crime ([23:17]).

4. The Cold Case Heats Up

• Breakthrough from a Family Tip

  • Nearly a decade later, a brother provided a tip: a friend’s friend knew who started the fire ([26:55]).

  • This led investigators to Nicole, who reported a confession from her former boyfriend, Jeremiah Robb ([28:10]).

  • Key Confession Details ([32:24]):

    • Robb told Nicole: “I see this recycling bin on a porch. He just had an urge to set fire to it. So he did. And he said that it was that fire that killed the boy on the news.”

  • Nicole’s account was consistent, but corroborating such an old conversation posed challenges ([29:14], [29:29]).

• Controlled Call Attempt

  • Police considered having Nicole call Robb for a confession (“controlled call”), but experts advised against it due to the obviousness after so many years ([35:20]).

5. Confronting the Suspect

• Facing Jeremiah Robb

  • In 2023, after years of delay (including COVID-19 disruptions), police finally confronted Robb at his Pennsylvania home ([39:57]).

  • Local Detective Oliver observed Robb’s body language and eventually used his professed Christianity to nudge him toward the truth ([46:34]):

    • “The only reason these guys are here is because Nicole said that you said that you did this. Is Nicole a liar?”
    • Robb: “No, she’s not a liar.” ([47:16])
    • “If she’s not a liar, then she’s telling the truth. ... One part of being a good Christian is, you know, come clean.”

  • Robb broke down and confessed at his kitchen table, confirming details that only the perpetrator would know ([48:00–49:11]):

    • “He just got this urge to kind of light fire to it. ... As he’s doing that, he’s seeing the reflection of these brown shingles off of the side of the house.”

• Further Steps

  • Robb voluntarily accompanied detectives to Binghamton, again confessing on tape ([50:40]).
  • Quote (Robb, [50:45]):
    • "Let me ask you point blank, did you start the fire?"
    • "Yeah. I started a fire. I started a fire. Yeah. I'm as guilty as anybody whose guilty can be."
  • He was not initially arrested or handcuffed, demonstrating his ongoing cooperation.

6. The Legal Challenge

• Circumstantial Case

  • No physical evidence, only witness testimony and Robb’s admissions ([54:35]).
  • Lucas Finley (prosecutor):
    • “You have the knowledge of the scene ... type of house, the color of the house, the layout ... a couple gas caps monkeyed with on the street. Other than that, there’s no physical evidence.” ([54:35])

• Felony Murder and Jury Dynamics

  • The original trial ended in a hung jury and mistrial ([58:21]).

  • Jury instructions and selection were crucial because Robb's crime lacked “intent to kill” ([55:44]):

    • Finley (re: jury): “Are you able to convict him of murder, if that's what the law said he did?” ([55:44])

  • At the retrial in 2025, the jury deliberated under three hours before returning “guilty” on all counts ([58:40–59:18]):

    • Murder in the second degree
    • Two counts of arson (one for Jeffrey’s death, one for Ariana’s injury)

  • Robb was sentenced to 20 years to life ([59:57]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Community Response:

  • Anna Sega Nicolasi ([05:58]):
    “People not just watching, putting themselves at risk like that really shows the very best of not only community, but of humanity.”

• Mother’s Strength:

  • Lucas Finley ([20:19]):
    “Maureen is an incredibly strong person. She was motivated from day one to do everything that she could to get justice for her son and to find the truth behind what happened.”

• On the Confession:

  • Robb, in the car with detectives ([50:45]):
    “Yeah. I started a fire. I started a fire. Yeah. I'm as guilty as anybody whose guilty can be.”

• Prosecutorial Doubt:

  • Lucas Finley ([54:06]):
    “This is the thing in their lives that's defined their life in a way. This is something that they've been dealing with. And all of that pressure is put on you.”

• Finley on Jury’s Challenge:

  • ([57:26]):
    “It's hard for the average person to wrap their mind around that conduct being called murder.”

• Scott Weinberger ([60:20]):
  “In the first few moments of this tragedy, Jeffrey's community came together to try to save his family. And in the end, it was a member of that community, the defendant's ex girlfriend, who would step up and do the right thing and help bring Jeffrey and his family the justice they so deserved.”

Timeline & Timestamps for Critical Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |------------|-------------------------------------------------| | [02:01] | Scene set: Fire reported & crisis begins | | [09:39] | Jeffrey’s loss and discovery of his body | | [11:03] | Eyewitness evidence places fire’s origin | | [14:19] | Second fire revealed, arson theory firmed | | [15:59] | Police rule arson: now a homicide | | [19:28] | Explanation of felony murder law | | [26:55] | Cold case breaks: a tip after a decade | | [32:24] | Robb’s confession relayed by Nicole | | [39:57] | Police finally confront Robb in 2023 | | [46:34] | Detective Oliver’s crucial approach | | [48:00] | Robb’s emotional confession | | [50:40] | Robb confesses on tape; key admission | | [54:35] | Challenges of a circumstantial case | | [58:21] | First trial: mistrial details | | [58:40] | Retrial: guilty verdict returned | | [59:57] | Sentence: 20 years to life | | [60:54] | Hosts’ final reflections and tribute |

Host Reflections & Closing Thoughts

• On Responsibility and Law

  • Anna Sega Nicolasi ([60:54]):
    “This case is different than many of the homicide cases we cover because there was likely never the intent to kill or even to harm anyone inside the ASA home. But ... when you commit certain crimes intentionally, like setting that fire, you are responsible for whatever happens as a result.”

• Tribute to Jeffrey and His Family

  • “Jeffrey Asa lost his life because of the rash and selfish behavior of another. ... We leave this episode thinking of Jeffrey, the Asa family, and Jeffrey's twin, who lost his other half forever.”

Summary

This emotionally charged episode traverses a decade-long pursuit of justice for the Asa family. The hosts deftly unwind the complexities—investigative, legal, and personal—of solving an arson-murder with scant physical evidence and a suspect whose actions were both random and devastating. Ultimately, it was persistence, community vigilance, and the courage of an ex-girlfriend that led to answers and closure for a family that refused to give up.