Reward Increased Dramatically in San Marcos Fire that Killed San Angeloan

SAN MARCOS, TX -- Authorities Friday announced a huge increase in the reward for information about the arsonist who set fire to a San Marcos apartment complex killing five people including one from San Angelo.  

According to information from the San Marcos Fire Department, investigators a year after the deadly blaze still have no suspects. 

The reward has been increased to $110,000. The original reward was $10,000 from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and explosives. 

Brian and Michele Frizzell of San Angelo, who lost their daughter, Haley Michele Frizzell, 19, and Miguel and Gina Ortiz of Pasadena, who lost their son, David Angel Ortiz, 21, added $10,000 of their own money to the reward; the new reward is a mixture of public funds and privately donated contributions. It includes $25,000 from the ATF and $25,000 from the city of San Marcos. A group of anonymous San Marcos business operators also contributed $40,000 as did the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce. 

As we reported last year, the fire erupted shortly before 4:30 a.m. July 20, 2018, at Iconic Village at 222 Ramsay St. while most residents were asleep. Flames quickly consumed Building 500, a two-story structure containing 28 apartments, then spread to two nearby apartment buildings.

Those killed were Haley Frizzell and her roommate, David Ortiz, both Texas State students; Dru Estes, 20, of San Antonio, who had recently completed his sophomore year at the university; former Texas State student Belinda Moats, 21, of Big Wells; and James Phillip Miranda, 23, of Mount Pleasant, an assistant manager at a Discount Tire store.

Another man, Zachary Sutterfield, 21, of San Angelo, suffered third-degree burns over almost 70 percent of his body and a traumatic brain injury when he jumped from a second-story outdoor balcony to escape the fire. He had been sleeping in the same apartment as Frizzell and Ortiz.

Sutterfield is recovering in San Antonio, where he has undergone 24 surgeries and still faces many more operations.

Six other people suffered less severe injuries, such as broken bones, when they fled the burning building.