Fire That Killed Family of Four in June was Arson?|關廟民宅火警4死 從意外逆轉為縱火案

A fire in Tainan's Guanmiao on June 23 killed four members of three generations of the same family. Although most people believed initially that the fire was caused by an electrical or gas fault, prosecutors dove deep into the investigation and discovered it may have been arson.


This fire in Guanmiao's Huayuan Borough took the lives of a family of four on June 23. While it was initially ruled an electrical fire, investigators now believe it may have been arson.

What was suspicious about this person was that he had burns on his right palm. (Chang's family members) were present when we searched his home. We found a gas tank with a white residue. This man was definitely involved somehow.

On June 24, a Guanmiao resident surnamed Chang killed himself. Police say there'd been some kind of dispute between Chang and the victims and Chang fought with the family at their home on at least one occasion. Chang was also spotted in the area shortly before the fire. One neighbor says Chang frequently visited the family to make trouble.

(He was making trouble?) I've heard that, but I never witnessed it myself personally so I don't know.

(He was making trouble?) A month or two ago. He fought with them for a long time. (At the time of the fire), he was on the scene. He watched them carry the bodies out of the house. No one knew he was the one who set the fire. He also tried to borrow money from someone and said he was going to flee.

Police say Chang is the chief suspect because before he killed himself, he had burn scars on his hands, once told a friend he was carrying the burden of four lives, and talked about borrowing money and running away. Investigators hope forensic evidence will help them solve the case.



大火把民宅燒個精光，更造成祖孫3代4死的慘劇，上個月23號，發生在關廟花園里民宅火警，原本以為只是單純的電器走火，但經過檢、警、消深入追查，案情逆轉，很有可能是縱火案。

歸仁分局副分局長 張翊雋表示：「這個人，比較可疑的地方，因為他右手掌有燒燙傷痕跡。（張姓家屬)陪同之下，去搜索張姓男子住屋處，裡面有發現，有白色的殘留的汽油桶，我們研判這名男子，涉案程度很高。」

上月24號，關廟地區發生一起張姓男子輕生案件，警方釐清他與火場傷者的感情關係，並且查出張男曾到該民宅吵鬧，事發前，張男又出現在失火的民宅附近，不久房子就起火燃燒，警方將他列為重大嫌疑人，附近鄰居也說張姓男子的確常來鬧事。

死者家屬表示：「（來鬧事) 我是有聽說，但實際上我不在場，我也不知道。」

失火民宅附近住戶表示：「（來鬧事)一兩個月前，來吵好久了，（事發當時)他也有來現場啦，在那邊，看人家把屍體運出來，人家不知道他放的，還去跟人家借錢，說要跑路。」

警方表示發現，一開始發現張男手上有燒燙傷痕跡起疑，加上他曾向朋友說背負4條人命，借錢說要跑路，但後來卻輕生，是否為畏罪尋短，仍待釐清。由於張男已死亡無法對證，檢、警、消也只能透過火調來釐清原因，透過科學證據，拼湊案情真相。