18-year-old ‘serial arsonist’ captured in Kansas, sheriff says

An 18-year-old serial arsonist was caught in Barton County after lighting five fires out in the county in a possible attempt to prevent someone else from being arrested, the Barton County Sheriff’s Office said.

Gunner Mayhugh of Great Bend was arrested on suspicion of five counts of arson. He is being held in lieu of a $500,000 in connection to the Sunday afternoon fires. Sheriff Brian Bellendir said Mayhugh lit five fires over several miles, all east of U.S. 281 between Ellinwood and Great Bend.

“He may have been trying to prevent the arrest of someone who was wanted on a probation violation for drugs,” Bellendir said.

The 911 calls started at around 4:28 p.m. Three fire calls were made and two more fires were discovered by people and extinguished. Bellendir said it appears the ditches were set on fire and the fires trickled onto nearby hay barrels in some of the fires.

Callers reported seeing a silver Chevrolet at the fires.

In at least one instance the suspect was observed setting the fire, according to a news release from the Sheriff’s Office.

A vehicle was spotted going eastbound on NE 10 Road, heading fast toward Ellinwood, the release said. Deputies stopped the vehicle and found accelerants and a fireplace lighter.

This story was originally published February 18, 2020 at 11:36 AM.