Georgia v. Linda and Scott Dahlman—Taking Absence of Motive to New Lows

The chapter details the case of Frances Dahlman, a frail, elderly woman who died in a fire while under the care of her son, Scott, and daughter-in-law, Valerie. Despite the couple's dedicated care and the easy availability of painless methods to end Frances’ life if desired, they were accused of intentionally setting her on fire. The investigation was marred by questionable conclusions and overlooked evidence. A state fire marshal declared the fire incendiary, initially without the knowledge of a candle that was the most likely ignition source. He ruled out the candle more than a year after the fire using what he called “deductive reasoning.” The city fire marshal, John Dailey, disagreed with this conclusion but was pressured to go along and eventually lost his job. But he maintained his integrity. The case against Scott and Valerie was ultimately dismissed due to insufficient evidence. The chapter highlights the importance of thorough, unbiased investigations and the consequences of flawed reasoning in fire investigations. It also emphasizes the personal toll on the accused and the investigator who stood by his principles.