REOPENED: A is for Arson

Summary

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Cold Case Files: REOPENED — "A is for Arson"

Original Air Date: May 7, 2026
Host/Narrator: Marisa Pinson (A&E / PodcastOne)

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Episode Overview

This gripping episode revisits the decades-old arson case that claimed the life of firefighter Gary Parks in Everett, Washington, in 1987. Host Marisa Pinson narrates a journey through trauma, family resilience, dogged detective work, and the modern breakthroughs that finally brought justice. Listeners are taken from the harrowing night of the fire through false leads, heartbreak, and the ultimate confession from an unlikely suspect nearly 35 years later.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Fire and Gary Parks’ Sacrifice

(01:25–07:19)

• On February 16, 1987, a massive fire broke out at the Everett Community College's library. Firefighter Gary Parks, normally the engine driver, bravely entered the building and died from smoke inhalation.
• First responders recall intense, chaotic conditions, highlighting Gary’s heroism.
  • Quote: “At his own risk, he selflessly took off his mask and freely offered the very air that was sustaining him in that fire and held it out toward me. That’s why Gary is a hero.” — Deputy Chief Sam Franchimone (07:19)

2. Impact on the Parks Family and Community

(07:34–10:46)

• Family members Kathy (wife), Aaron, and Jennifer (daughters) reminisce about Gary’s warmth, humor, and love for life, describing the personal and community loss.
• Gary’s ethos as someone “born to help,” who “fulfilled his dream by becoming a firefighter” (Kathy Parks, 10:06).

3. The Immediate Investigation and Determination of Arson

(10:46–12:18)

• Initial fire investigation finds that the fire was intentionally set. Books and papers were used as starter fuel.
  • Quote: “If you set a fire and a firefighter dies, you’re guilty of first-degree murder.” — Bruce Hansen, Fire Marshal (12:03)

4. Early Suspects: Security Guards and the “Street Kids”

(14:46–18:56)

• Security guard Fred Gorham is briefly a suspect after inconsistencies but is eventually cleared; confesses he was asleep on duty, not wanting to get in trouble.
• Attention shifts to a group of troubled local kids, including Elmer Nash, after a witness offers a bizarre “astral projection” story implicating a fair-haired boy. Nash denies involvement and passes a polygraph.

5. The False Trail: Serial Arsonist Paul Keller

(19:02–23:29)

• Years later, Paul Keller, responsible for a regional arson spree and multiple deaths, becomes a suspect.
• Investigators unravel circumstantial evidence (proximity, fire interest), but his MO and logistics don’t fit the Everett case; he had not lived near the college at the time, nor appeared on fire scene video.
  • Quote: “The investigation really started slowing down.” — Detective Kwalczyk (23:29)

6. Cold Case Revived — New Investigative Push

(24:01–25:47, 25:57–27:54)

• On the 30th anniversary of the crime, Detective Mike Atwood picks up the cold case, prioritizes thorough review, and brings in Special Agent Dawn T. Dodsworth’s expertise.

7. Break in the Case: Elmer Nash Revisited

(28:15–34:48)

• By chance, Nash is found in jail and agrees to talk. Under polygraph and interrogation, Nash first minimizes involvement, then confesses: he set the fire with a wooden kitchen match to cover up a burglary with friends.
  • Quote: “He said, ‘I used a wooden kitchen match,’ and I almost fell out of my chair.” — Detective Kwalczyk (31:12)
• Nash later tries to recant his confession, claiming no memory of the event.

8. Prosecutorial Hurdles and a Long-awaited Breakthrough

(35:41–38:11)

• Despite the recantation, new forensic analysis by Dodsworth supports the confession and original arson conclusion; the case is submitted for prosecution.
• Nash is formally charged with arson, burglary, and first-degree murder based on his age at the time of the offense.

9. The Plea Deal and Sentencing Saga

(38:32–42:21)

• Nash accepts a plea deal, facing a much shorter sentence due to juvenile status. Family is left angry and frustrated.
  • Quote: “What kind of crap is that?...But this crime was committed when Elmer was 12 years old, so they had to charge him based on his age at the time of the crime.” — Aaron Parks (39:00)
• Nash fails to appear for sentencing, is pursued and eventually tracked down by U.S. Marshals.
• Upon sentencing, the judge rejects the light sentence—Nash receives 10 years and lifetime community supervision.
  • Quote: “Today the court is sentencing a grown man who sadly appears to have not fully grown up.” — Judge David Kurtz (42:21)

10. Family, Forgiveness, and Gary’s Legacy

(42:52–44:22)

• Emotional confrontation between Kathy Parks and Elmer’s mother leads to a moment of mutual compassion and forgiveness.
  • Quote: “I just got overwhelmed with a feeling that I had to touch her. It was wonderful. I pray for her. I love her. That’s maybe where my forgiveness is.” — Kathy Parks (42:59)
• Gary Parks’s legacy is honored through a campus building, a sculpture, and a scholarship in his name for aspiring firefighters.
  • Quote: “He touched so many lives. My dad was a hero. He still is a hero.” — Jennifer Parks (44:22)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "At his own risk, he selflessly took off his mask and freely offered the very air that was sustaining him in that fire and held it out toward me. That’s why Gary is a hero." — Deputy Chief Sam Franchimone (07:19)
• "If you set a fire and a firefighter dies, you’re guilty of first-degree murder." — Bruce Hansen (12:03)
• "He said, 'I used a wooden kitchen match,' and I almost fell out of my chair." — Detective Kwalczyk (31:12)
• "Today the court is sentencing a grown man who sadly appears to have not fully grown up." — Judge David Kurtz (42:21)
• "I just got overwhelmed with a feeling that I had to touch her...That's maybe where my forgiveness is." — Kathy Parks (42:59)
• "He touched so many lives. My dad was a hero. He still is a hero." — Jennifer Parks (44:22)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:25] – Kathy Parks recounts learning of Gary’s death
• [03:09] – Firefighters describe the inferno and Gary’s heroism
• [10:46] – Family and community impact, investigation launch
• [12:03] – Fire officially ruled as arson/murder
• [14:46] – Initial suspects, security guard interviews
• [18:56] – New leads: the street kids, Elmer Nash enters
• [23:29] – Paul Keller theory fizzles
• [25:22] – Detective Atwood reopens the case, new resolve
• [28:27] – Unexpectedly re-encountering Nash in jail
• [31:12] – Nash confessed to using a wooden kitchen match
• [34:30] – Detective delivers case update to Parks family
• [39:00] – Family reacts to plea deal and sentencing issues
• [41:17] – Nash’s emotional courtroom apology
• [42:41] – Final sentencing: 10 years, lifetime community supervision
• [43:43] – Kathy Parks’ act of forgiveness
• [44:08] – Gary's legacy: building, sculpture, scholarship

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Conclusion

This emotionally charged episode of Cold Case Files is a testament to persistence and the human cost of unresolved tragedy. With moving firsthand accounts, dogged investigation, and eventual closure—but not perfect resolution—for Gary Parks’ family, it’s a powerful story of heroism, heartbreak, and ultimately, hard-won justice. The memory of Gary Parks endures through community recognition and the lives inspired by his legacy.

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Transcript

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[Narrator]

This episode contains descriptions of violence. Listener discretion is advised.

[Kathy Parks]

I expected to be married for 50 years or more. I expected to take care of my husband in his late years. In fact, that's what you do when you take wedding vows. For better, for worse, for richer, poorer, in sickness and health, till death do you part. Well, his death happened. I. I didn't know what to do. Different people came on the case. Different people left. You're just numb. You're just numb. I didn't really think it'd ever be solved.

[Narrator]

There are 120,000 unsolved murders in America. Each one is a cold case. Only 1% are ever solved. This is one of those rare stories. It's an early winter's morning at 3:18am on February 16, 1987. The residents of Everett, Washington, are fast asleep. Temperatures hover in the 40s. Few would notice a hint of smoke in the otherwise clear sky. In these early morning hours, a police officer on routine patrol in Everett observes a glow in the area of Everett Community College. He looks on as he sees flames 40ft high emanating from the campus. Dawn T. Dodsworth, ATF Supervisory Special Agent and certified fire investigator, recalls what happened next.

[Dawn T. Dodsworth]

The police officer responds to that location and observes a column of smoke and flame coming up through the roof. Of that structure, particularly in the area of the library. The officer requests the dispatch of the fire department.

[Narrator]

Bruce hansen is the fire marshal on call.

[Bruce Hansen]

That night I got called in as the fire marshal on call to come and help assist. When I got there, the fire was raging. It was an inferno. Basically it was out of control.

[Narrator]

When the fire department arrives at the college, they make entry into the student union building which is up in flames. Deputy chief Sam franchimone is one of the first firefighters to arrive on the scene.

[Deputy Chief Sam Franchimone]

I was the first one in and I could see an open air atrium and on the other side of that atrium there was a lot of fire. So we brought our lines in there and started working on the fire.

[Narrator]

Another one of the firefighters to enter the building, alongside six is 48 year old Gary parks, the driver of everett's engine number two.

[Bruce Hansen]

Gary was my buddy. He was trusted, he was knowledgeable. He always had your back. You could count on Gary. Gary could really do anything.

[Narrator]

Normally gary just stays with the fire engine, but on this occasion he goes into the burning building.

[Deputy Chief Sam Franchimone]

We had been in there 10, 15 minutes. It was getting a lot more smoky.

[Bruce Hansen]

People die of smoke inhalation all the time. So the crew goes in, Scott, air packs on. So they're breathing compressed fresh air, Just like what scuba divers do when they're under the water.

[Deputy Chief Sam Franchimone]

The packs though, they're rated for 30 minutes. Usually in a working fire, we'll go through that in 15 minutes. You go through it very, very fast. I'd had no idea how long I was in there, but I drew a breath and there was no air in my tank. And I realized this environment is a whole lot worse than I thought.

[Bruce Hansen]

They had a raging fire that all of a sudden was just ballooned on them from where it was to where they are.

[Narrator]

As the firefighters work inside the burning building, conditions deteriorate rapidly. They're cut off by a wall of flames that roars behind them, blocking their retreat. It's now a life or death situation as thick black smoke engulfs the brave men.

[Deputy Chief Sam Franchimone]

My first thought that came to me was my 4 month old son john. And I thought, he's never gonna know his dad. I remember him calling out for help. I saw a mask come out to my right. I brought it up to my face to take a breath of air and I remember handing the mask back and that's when I saw that it was Gary parks. And at that point I saw the hose line. I grabbed that hose line because I knew that hose line was my lifeline out of that fire, I had to hold onto that line and to follow it. And I literally held on that hose line for dear life till I got out of that fire.

[Bruce Hansen]

They're struggling to breathe. It's hard for them to talk. Some of them almost didn't make it out. When we're crawling out the door and they realize someone's missing, Gary was not there.

[Narrator]

Nearly an hour would pass before firefighters can re enter the building. The fire has been contained by thousands of gallons of water sprayed from the fire truck. The firefighters finally find Gary. He lays motionless on the floor, his helmet by his side. Despite exhaustive life saving efforts, Gary Parks is pronounced dead. His cause of death is smoke inhalation.

[Deputy Chief Sam Franchimone]

At his own risk, he selflessly took off his mask and freely offered the very air that was sustaining him in that fire and held it out toward me. That's why Gary is a hero.

[Narrator]

Around three hours later, Gary's wife Kathy Parks is in bed when somebody walks up her driveway.

[Kathy Parks]

I was asleep and somebody came up the driveway.

[Narrator]

I thought, well, that's strange.

[Kathy Parks]

And I looked and said to Everett Police Department and I thought, okay, what's going on? They said, I want you to come with us now. So I got into the car with the Everett Police Department was an officer and a chaplain. Nobody talked to me the whole way. I don't think they knew what to say. They stopped the car at Providence Hospital. I got out and they came to me and said, I'm so sorry. That's how I found out that Gary had died. I went to the University of Washington and. And when school was out, I took a job with House of Values and walked in the door and there was Gary Parks. He could tell jokes. They were so funny that he'd keep you laughing. I think that was probably what attracted me the most, is his happiness and being able to make me happy. He asked me to marry him in a bowling alley. He said, if you don't have anything better to do, do you want to get married? So I said, sure.

[Narrator]

The newly married couple moved to Lake Stevens, just outside Everett, and began to raise a family. They have a little girl who they named Aaron.

[Aaron Parks]

I would describe my dad as excited about life. He was just a beautiful man inside and out. He was very active and athletic, just full of life.

[Jennifer Parks]

Aw, I wish I could hear his voice. I mean, a good dad.

[Kathy Parks]

Well, I think maybe his love for sailing was second to his love for fishing. I worked to buy a sailboat. It was called the Catherine. And that was the love for both of us.

[Narrator]

Gary and Kathy have a second daughter, Jennifer.

[Jennifer Parks]

He wasn't a very good fisherman, but he loved it. My mom used to catch more fish than him, but he loved the Catherine.

[Kathy Parks]

I can't believe it.

[Detective Mike Atwood]

Solid oysters over there.

[Kathy Parks]

Come on.

[Jennifer Parks]

He was probably the funniest person I ever met. He was an affectionate man, too. That's the kind of guy he was.

[Narrator]

Gary was well known in the Lake Stevens neighborhood the family called home. He taught the neighborhood kids how to play sports, water ski and snorkel. On the weekends, he would chauffeur kids to the local drive in movie theater. It was in the growing metropolis of Everett that Gary finally found his calling.

[Kathy Parks]

There's some people who are just born to help people. And he felt that would fulfill his whole life dream, becoming a firefighter.

[Narrator]

After 18 years of service. The flames that Gary spent his career valiantly fighting claim his life. His death sends shockwaves through the community of Everett, as we're called by Deputy Chief Gerard Irving.

[Detective Mike Atwood]

Culturally, firefighters are viewed as heroes. They're the ones that run into burning buildings to save lives. The community lost one of their own, and so it had a huge ripple effect through the city of Everett.

[Narrator]

The Everett Fire Department launches an investigation into how the fire started.

[Detective Mike Atwood]

There was a lot to be done, and for this fire, because of the magnitude, they called in the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, also known as the atf.

[Dawn T. Dodsworth]

So as a fire investigator, we're trained to approach the scene in a neutral manner, and we want to basically have a holistic picture of the damage of the structure, what types of items have still survived versus what has been damaged or destroyed. In order to start to determine where we as investigators should start looking for the area of origin of the fire, it's very critical for us because the cause of that fire will be located within the area of origin.

[Narrator]

Slowly but surely, the site begins to yield tangible clues. As investigators are processing the scene, they determine that the fire originated behind the library. Check in area investigators find various papers, books, and academic materials strewn around the floor. They they surmised that these materials were placed on the floor as a means to instigate the fire as a first fuel. They ultimately determined that the fire was set intentionally. It was arson.

[Bruce Hansen]

The rule and the law in Washington state is if you set a fire, if you're the cause of the fire, and a firefighter dies in the fire, you're guilty of first degree murder.

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[Dawn T. Dodsworth]

Everett Fire Department investigators and the Everett Police Department began to pursue the investigation of who could potentially be the suspects and ultimately who would actually be the criminal that set the fire.

[Narrator]

Three days later, fallen firefighter Gary Parks is memorialized in Everett's Marina. It's far from a private event.

[Aaron Parks]

I just remember looking around and just seeing a sea of people and it was a beautiful event but very touching because it was right where my mom and dad had moored their sailboat. It was a great celebration of his life, but a sad event for his death.

[Narrator]

As Gary is laid to rest, the investigation into his murder gains momentum. Detective Mike Atwood speaks with a security guard on duty the night of the fire.

[Detective Kwalczyk]

Well, there were two security guards that were on the scene that night. There was one security guard. His name was Cameron Ackley.

[Narrator]

Cameron had noted that there was an open Window in the cafeteria, which was the building that had eventually caught fire. He didn't think anything of it at first, not until after the building went up in flames.

[Bruce Hansen]

And that became a concern that somebody probably got in through the window.

[Narrator]

The other security guard that came in at midnight was, was Fred Gorham. He was on duty at the guard shack.

[Fred Gorham]

Like I heard something. When I got up, it was just like, flames are coming out. I ran out here, I looked, I didn't know what to do. I was first thinking about running in there or something, but you know, then I decided, ran back, I called 911.

[Narrator]

As investigators look into this, they discover that there is no record of a phone call ever being placed to the dispatch center or to911.

[Detective Mike Atwood]

You have an individual who just basically misrepresented himself, didn't tell an accurate story.

[Bruce Hansen]

So he had some explaining to do. Security guards in some areas have been known to set fires before and then discover the fires to be a hero.

[Narrator]

During questioning, Gorham makes an admission.

[Detective Mike Atwood]

They were able to determine that he was in fact asleep during the morning of the fire. He didn't want to get in trouble for not recognizing that the building was on fire.

[Detective Kwalczyk]

Their investigation into him was pretty extensive.

[Detective Mike Atwood]

There was no motive for him and ultimately we were able to rule him out as a suspect.

[Narrator]

The case begins to cool and the months drag into years. The park family are left to pick up the pieces of their lives and move on as best as possible. But two years later, an encouraging new lead offers them fresh hope.

[Detective Kwalczyk]

There were three subjects that were all associated with one another, reportedly by numerous witnesses at the scene of the fire. On the night of the fire. I'd qualify these kids as rough and tumble street kids.

[Detective Mike Atwood]

They already had somewhat of a criminal history history, a criminal past. So in 1989 that was really kind of the focal point was the street kids and tracking down some of the rumors that were circulating around.

[Detective Kwalczyk]

One of the subjects that they interviewed says that he has information but that he wasn't at the fire, but he had what was he called an astral projection. That he had this vision that he was hovering above the scene and looked down and saw a fair haired blond boy amongst a pile of books setting a fire with a wooden matchstick. And the books and papers caught on fire. And that's the end of his, of his vision.

[Narrator]

Something he says catches the detectives attention.

[Detective Kwalczyk]

His description of the blonde fair haired young man with a wooden matchstick. He basically was describing one of his friends, Elmer Nash.

[Narrator]

Elmer Nash is a troubled 12 year old boy, he's no stranger to police.

[Detective Kwalczyk]

Most of the police at the time really knew who Elmer was because he was in constant trouble.

[Detective Mike Atwood]

So as we focused on Elmer, we were able to essentially get a statement from Elmer that he was not involved. We were able to polygraph him and determine if the information that he was providing was factual. He ultimately passed the polygraph. There was no sign of deception. And we, as the Everett police department detectives determined, let's look elsewhere. This might not be our main suspect, so we need to keep digging.

[Narrator]

The years continue to trickle past, and yet the case remains an enigma.

[Dawn T. Dodsworth]

In August of 1992 through February of 1993, there was a large series of fires that were occurring in the Seattle Metro areas

[Narrator]

just 28 miles south of Everett. Police realized they have a serial arsonist on the loose.

[Dawn T. Dodsworth]

Unfortunately, there were three elderly victims at a residential nursing home fire. The fire investigators were actually able to speak with an eyewitness who was able to describe a very neatly dressed man who was clean shaven. Once the sketch and the profile of this person were put out to the public, a brother and sister looked at it and they thought that this kind of looked like their brother, Paul Keller. They actually pulled some gas receipts from Paul's travels, and they were able to determine, looking at those fuel slips, that a lot of the plants that he actually got fuel for his vehicle were very close to where these fires were set.

[Narrator]

The family notifies the police. They ultimately decide to place Paul Keller under arrest and bring him into police custody to be interviewed. Once seated, Keller is essentially told that it was over, that they knew he was the person setting the fires. Astonishingly, Keller breaks down and admits to setting 70 of these fires. When Gary's family hears about the arrest and confession, they believe that police might have also caught his killer.

[Aaron Parks]

I was 100% convinced it was him.

[Detective Mike Atwood]

Paul Keller was of tremendous interest. Did he start the fire in 1987 that killed firefighter Gary Parks?

[Dawn T. Dodsworth]

Paul Keller did have an infatuation with firefighters in the fire department. He actually had police scanners and he would listen to the activities going on within Everett and the surrounding areas.

[Narrator]

Eventually, he is convicted of the charges. And on August 28, 1993, Paul Keller is sentenced to 75 years in prison for the first degree arson murder of the three elderly residents in Seattle's Four Freedoms Retirement Home. Investigators naturally set out to discover if Keller is also behind the fire that took Gary Parks life.

[Dawn T. Dodsworth]

Investigators began to look at Paul Keller as a potential suspect due to the fact that the fire was set by an Open flame to available combustibles. Paul Keller initially set these fires as some type of revenge for from having a very overly controlling family. He really got excited by seeing the flames. Seeing the firefighters responding, watching the fireground activities,

[Narrator]

Investigators begin to build a case. They unearth a promising lead linking Keller to the college blaze.

[Detective Mike Atwood]

There were witnesses that said, oh, Paul Keller lived near the Everett Community College fires. Additionally, Paul was said to have been on video the night of the fire where they had a film crew that was videotaping the fire. And so we needed to try and get that film.

[Narrator]

But the case against Paul Keller begins to show cracks.

[Dawn T. Dodsworth]

A lot of Paul Keller's fires were set on the exterior of a structure. The Everett Community College fire was actually set in the library. So the Everett Community College fire was determined not to fit within the general pattern of the fires set by Paul Keller.

[Narrator]

Investigators shift focus. They look for the video of Keller in the crowd. They also inquire about Keller's address at the time of the fire.

[Dawn T. Dodsworth]

Investigators were able to determine through speaking with this landlord that Paul Keller, in fact did not reside at this residence at the time of the fire. In fact, he had lived there after the fire.

[Detective Mike Atwood]

Detectives were unable to find any video that had Paul Keller there. There was even one allegation that he was dressed as an ATF agent with a blue hard hat on that was disproven as well.

[Detective Kwalczyk]

The investigation really started slowing down.

[Narrator]

Years continue to slowly pass and Gary's family grows despondent. Before they know it, it's been 10 years since the inferno took Gary's life.

[Jennifer Parks]

I just kind of gave up. You know, I thought, well, if it's going to get solved, it will. But you give up hope after a while.

[Kathy Parks]

I'd go into the police department. You know, it was, can you give me some information, anything? But it was a dead end.

[Aaron Parks]

Right after the 10 year anniversary, I spoke to one of the investigators and asking how the cold case was doing. And I remember just seeing a three ring binder on the table. This is it. This is the evidence. And I thought, are you kidding me right now?

[Narrator]

Years transform into decades. But Gary's family and the investigators refused to give up.

[Detective Mike Atwood]

I think it really became a cold case after trying to track down the street kids. Elmer Nash passing a polygraph, Paul Keller potentially being a person of interest. All leads just kind of dried up. So in 2016, I came into investigations. Detective Atwood and I conversed about the Gary Parks case and really focused, let's close this case out. I had the flyer from Gary Parks. I had put his picture up on the corkboard as a remembrance. But also, let's not let this case go even colder. I had been a firefighter. I knew what it was like to go into a building like that. And I just saw the emotional turmoil that Kathy Parks and her two daughters had been subjected to. It meant a lot to me to get a closure to it because that family deserved it.

[Detective Kwalczyk]

This was the first cold case that I was involved with, never having done this before. We started from the beginning. Our game plan was anybody that was still viable left in this case, we needed to contact.

[Detective Mike Atwood]

I said, let's go close this case. Do anything you need to do to be able to professionally get a conviction and find out who really did this.

[Detective Kwalczyk]

I wanted to interview Paul Keller. I wanted to interview Filmer. Paul Keller actually agreed to speak with me.

[Narrator]

Keller sticks to his statement that he did not set the college fire.

[Detective Kwalczyk]

This was one of the only cases that he didn't confess to and was always adamant that he wasn't involved.

[Narrator]

Detective Atwood shifts gears to suspect number two, Elmer Nash. The now 41 year old Petty criminal has no known address. But at the Snohomish County Jail, Detective Atwood gets a lucky break.

[Detective Kwalczyk]

Elmer Nash is standing at the counter. He'd just gotten arrested and was being booked into the jail. I just threw caution to the wind and went for it.

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[Detective Mike Atwood]

I get a phone call from Detective Atwood at the jail, and he says, lieutenant, I see Elmer Nash in here. Should I go interview him? And I said, there's no time like the present. Go for it.

[Detective Kwalczyk]

I went up and talked to Elmer and I said, hey, do you mind coming back to the station? I'd love to talk about a case that I'm working. And the words came out of his mouth. He goes, oh, is this about the fire at the college? That blew me away a little bit. I said, well, as a matter of fact, it is. And he goes, sure. So tried to interview him. It was not successful. Right in the middle of a sentence, I would look over at him, he'd be sound asleep. And I realized at that point he was probably under the influence of an opiate. And I said, we need to stop anything. He tells me, at this point, I'm not going to be able to use anyways.

[Narrator]

Detective Atwood will have to wait until Nash is sober to question him. He returns Nash to the jail cell, concerned he's just lost his best shot at solving Gary's murder.

[Detective Kwalczyk]

Elmer is the type of guy where if you don't stay in contact, he could be gone and you won't see him for a month. I would have to track him. And then wasn't sure if he'd still want to talk by the time he got back out two days later, went back to jail, recontacted him. He's still willing to talk to me. We had a rapport with one another. We're talking, and Detective Kwalczyk from Everett Peaty says, we can do a polygraph. Elmer says, yes, they get done. Detective Kwalczak comes out, and she goes, he failed miserably. So she tells him that he failed the test, and she starts in on the interview. He's almost horizontal in his chair. That's usually a sign where they're starting to give up. They're getting cooked right here, and they kind of hunker down in that seat.

[Narrator]

Before long, a story slowly begins to form about the night the library caught fire.

[Detective Kwalczyk]

Elmer put himself on scene, said he was there as a lookout. He described himself as climbing through a window or a hatch. He gets himself to the point where he's starting to get involved in the. And I can't remember what the question was that was asked, but it either offended him or he felt wronged by the question. And he shot up in his seat and started arguing and I knew she was done. At that point, I freak out a little bit myself. I settled everything down and got Elmer into a different room. We sit down, we talk. He continues to put himself on the scene. And I know I can start going at him a little harder now. And so I do.

[Narrator]

Detective Atwood pushes Nash for an answer to a question 30 years in the making. Who started the fire that killed Gary Parks?

[Detective Kwalczyk]

Elmer puts himself that he may have fed fuel to the fire, but he didn't start it. He kept minimizing and then eventually said that he had started the fire. I was highly charged. At the moment I'm flowing and I asked him, how did you start that fire? And he said, I used a wooden kitchen match and I almost fell out of my chair. I wasn't expecting that. I asked him why he started the fire, and he said, to cover up evidence. They were in the school trying to steal stuff.

[Narrator]

Detective Atwood isn't yet done. He wants a full confession. And he has a moment of inspiration.

[Detective Mike Atwood]

Detective Atwood texted me, bring me the picture. On my corkboard in my office was a picture of Gary Parks from the memorial. I immediately walked it up and I remember the door being slightly ajar with Elmer sitting in there. I reached in and I handed him the picture.

[Detective Kwalczyk]

I grabbed the photo of Gary Parks and I set it down in front of Elmer and Elmer broke down and he literally told me, tell his daughters that I'm sorry I started the fire and I didn't mean for anybody to get hurt. I sat there speechless.

[Detective Mike Atwood]

I remember feeling this elation that he finally admitted to what had, what had occurred on the morning of February 16, 1987.

[Narrator]

Their victory is short lived.

[Detective Kwalczyk]

The very next day, I get a message. And as soon as I saw that it was from the jail, I'm like, I know exactly what's about to happen. So I called the sergeant and he said that Elmer wants to talk to you. I went over to the jail. Elmer was sitting in a waiting room for me. What did you want to tell me?

[Elmer Nash]

I spoke to you about the. The community college, you know, fire and stuff like that. And I had told you that, you know, I passed back in 1987. Polygraph test, took another one and I failed for some reason. I don't know why, I didn't have any recollection of me being at the fire or anything like that. But I ended up telling you that I had something. You know, I ended up telling you I had something to do with it. But I wanted to. I felt like I need, you know, I wanted to help you out, you know? You know what I mean? But then I got to thinking about it and I'm thinking, well, I can't remember anything. I really can't. I can't really remember nothing. I don't remember being there or even starting a fire.

[Detective Kwalczyk]

Okay, so you're saying after yesterday you were recanting your statement, you didn't do it?

[Elmer Nash]

Yeah, I'm thinking. I am saying I'm thinking I didn't do it, that I didn't start the fire.

[Detective Kwalczyk]

Every interview about this case, he's put himself on scene and then he says, I can't remember.

[Detective Mike Atwood]

Detective Atwood calls me and he says, Elmer wants to recant what he said. And I said, yeah, he probably does want to recant because he realizes the magnitude of what he's in for now. It's murder. I had started reaching out to Kathy Parks after Detective Atwood was able to get the confession from Elmer Nash. And we sat down and we said, we have some good news for you. We want to tell you who started the Everett Community College fire.

[Narrator]

It has now been 30 years and three months since Gary's tragic death.

[Aaron Parks]

Atwood and Irving got to mom's house and we had a very lengthy meeting where the two of them shared the story of the three 12 year old boys that lit the fire to cover up a burglary. They knew who it was, but they didn't tell us a name.

[Detective Mike Atwood]

We didn't tell them the name because we were still trying to dot our I's and cross our T's.

[Kathy Parks]

They told me who it was and it was a shock that it was a young person that was hard to

[Aaron Parks]

take to learn that the fire was actually set by 12 year old boys. One in particular was really heartbreaking because my dad loved kids. I wanted to shout out to the world, we've got a case that's solved. We know who it is now. But I couldn't even broadcast that it was okay, you know, but don't tell anyone. Okay, well, that doesn't help a lot. You got a suspect, you have a Jailhouse confession. Let's go. You know, what are you waiting for?

[Narrator]

Another two years pass by? But investigators are determined to. To seek justice for Gary.

[Detective Kwalczyk]

What I had for the case was a whole bunch of witnesses putting Elmer at the scene. I had Elmer's confession of putting himself at the scene. I had photographs of the scene, and I had the initial arson investigation report.

[Detective Mike Atwood]

We provided information to the prosecutor, and the response back to Detective Atwood was we'd have to make sure everything was going to. If we went to trial, that would stand as if it happened today. So there was a tremendous amount of work, and that's ultimately where Detective Atwood was able to get Special Agent Don Dodsworth in and said, can you help me?

[Dawn T. Dodsworth]

What I was asked to do was to look at the fire with respect to how the scene was processed back in 1987. I was approaching it from the manner of being a truth seeker. In order to determine the area of origin of the fire and ultimately the fire's cause. I looked at some type of electrical event or failure. Next, any type of oily rags, perhaps spontaneously combusting and starting the fire was there. Smoking within the library, Any types of candles being left burning. I started to look at the potential for an intentionally set fire. The way books and academic materials were strewn throughout the floor within the area of origin. That was not natural. And while I was speaking with the librarians, they advised me that it was cold and nobody would have left a window open. Also looking at the partial confession by Elmer Nash. So the context of everything fit together perfectly, almost like a glove.

[Narrator]

Senior Special Agent Dodsworth finally finishes her report on the cause of the Everett Community College fire. She reaches the conclusion that it was a deliberate act by human hands which resulted in an incendiary or intentionally set fire. She reaches the conclusion that it was a deliberate act by human hands which resulted in an incendiary or intentionally set fire. Senior Special Agent Dodsworth passes her report to the Everett police and the prosecutor's office so that they can finally proceed with the criminal case.

[Detective Mike Atwood]

Detective Atwood was able to submit a super form which was formed, that says Elmer Nash is charged with arson, burglary, and murder in the first degree.

[Aaron Parks]

I did get a call from Irving, and he said, they're going forward with the case. They're going to actually have a trial, and they're going to convict Elmer Nash.

[Narrator]

As the prosecutor's office prepares for trial in March 2021, they receive some unexpected news.

[Detective Mike Atwood]

We find out that Elmer Nash is going to accept the plea agreement that he is Going to go before the judge. And we just couldn't believe it. We're like, oh, this is awesome.

[Narrator]

Elmer Nash is released on his own recognizance as he awaits sentencing. The plea means that Nash will likely serve less than three years in prison. Gary's family is distraught at the lenient sentence Nash is facing.

[Aaron Parks]

What kind of crap is that? I googled murder one and the minimum sentence was 10 years. That's the minimum sentence. But this crime was committed when Elmer was 12 years old, so they had to charge him based on his age at the time of the crime.

[Detective Mike Atwood]

So May 2021 is the sentencing hearing for Elmer Nash. This is a big deal. There are over 100 firefighters showing up past and present for this hearing. Except we were missing one thing. Elmer Nash was absent.

[Aaron Parks]

People came from all over the country for this hearing and he doesn't show.

[Detective Mike Atwood]

I recall his defense attorney in the hallway stressed, didn't know where Elmer was. It was 2:30, no sign of him. 3 o', clock, no sign of him. And finally the judge says, I'm issuing a warrant for Elmer Nash.

[Detective Kwalczyk]

At the time, I was working with the U.S. marshal Task Force. They immediately go into work mode and they start typing up murder warrants for the rest of Elmer. Kathy was upset. I told her, without a doubt, I don't care where he is. He's not far enough away from me to go find him. We started working on it with my U.S. marshal Task Force team at about 5 in the morning.

[Detective Mike Atwood]

It was beyond belief that Elmer Nash never showed up for the sentencing. They were calling phone numbers. They were trying to find him. We were hopeful that we were able to find him before the next sentencing hearing, which was scheduled a week later.

[Narrator]

U.S. marshals receive a tip the same day that Nash may be hiding out 40 miles away in Kent, Washington.

[Detective Kwalczyk]

We found him about an hour south of Everett in the back of a motorhome.

[Jennifer Parks]

He looked like he'd been up for a week and he was. He was out getting high. He felt bad because he had to face us.

[Narrator]

There will be no release for Nash this time. On May 11, 2021, he finally shuffles into court.

[Detective Mike Atwood]

At the second sentencing hearing, he was admonished by the judge severely for not abiding by his wishes and showing up. Elmer was up at the podium and just sobbing, telling the family, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry for what I did. I did not mean to do this. I'm so sorry for the loss of your husband, the loss of your father. We saw this, this Grown man that was as if he was 12 years old trying to apologize to everybody in the courtroom.

[Detective Kwalczyk]

It was about as real as you can get. It was. It was tough to watch.

[Detective Mike Atwood]

Aaron, Jen, Kathy had the opportunity to read a letter to the court and they asked for exceptional sentencing. The judge went through a litany of concerns that he had with Elmer. The plea agreement was for two, two and a half years. He got 10 years for the crime he committed.

[Jennifer Parks]

He killed my dad. I was GLAD he got 10 years. I think by screwing up, he did us a favor.

[Narrator]

In addition to the 10 year sentence, Nash is ordered to community custody for the rest of his life following his release. In handing down the sentence, Judge David Kurtz says today the court is sentencing a grown man who sadly appears to have not fully grown up. He also describes Gary as a hero.

[Detective Kwalczyk]

Elmer took a hit for what he did. I honestly don't think that Elmer was alone that night, but I think he's a loyal guy. But he also took the hit for what he had done.

[Narrator]

Across the courtroom, Kathy spots a woman sitting alone. It is Elmer Nash's mother.

[Kathy Parks]

I just got overwhelmed with a feeling that I had to touch her. I just had to go see her. She had a real struggle in life, nor the sympathy or the help she needed. I'm so mad at him for putting her through that. It was a 10 minute hug at least. And we just melted into each other. It was wonderful. I pray for her. I love her. That's maybe where my forgiveness is. I hope that everyone remembers that Gary was a wonderful father, a wonderful loving husband, a very good supporting friend. It's a big loss to lose somebody as devoted to his family and devoted to his community. It's a big loss.

[Aaron Parks]

The college has done a remarkable job of remembering my dad. Everything from naming a beautiful building after him to commissioning that beautiful sculpture with a helmet and the jacket. I've also helped keep keep his memory alive by helping spearhead the scholarship that supports people that are interested in getting into fire science in my dad's name.

[Narrator]

Today, Gary's memory lives on with a scholarship for future firefighters, which is aptly named after him. It had taken 12,456 days, but finally justice had been served.

[Jennifer Parks]

He touched so many lives. My dad was a hero. He still is a hero.

[Narrator]

Cold Case Files is hosted by Paula Barros. It's produced by the Law and Crime Network and written by Eileen McFarlane and Emily G. Thompson. Our composer is Blake Maples for A and E. Our senior producer is John Thrasher. And our supervisor, our supervising producer is McKamey Lin. Our executive producers are Jesse Katz, Maite Cueva and Peter Tarshis. This podcast is based on A E's Emmy winning TV series Cold Case Files. For more Cold case files, visit aetv.com.

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[Detective Mike Atwood]

We're coming at you with everything we got.

[Kathy Parks]

This is the mindset free. This is the mantra

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[Aaron Parks]

Huzzah.

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[Narrator]

Ugh.

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[Dawn T. Dodsworth]

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[Detective Kwalczyk]

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[Kathy Parks]

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[Jennifer Parks]

Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. Liberty.