Alleged serial arsonist charged in Holland Mansion, 7 other Phenix City fires, officials say

The serial arsonist who destroyed Phenix City’s historic Holland Mansion this past June also targeted seven other buildings, including a home occupied by two people, authorities announced Wednesday.

Because 45-year-old Shannon Patrick Swann set fire to a residence where people were living, he is charged with two counts of attempted murder, in addition to eight counts of arson, investigators said.

Swann burned multiple unoccupied buildings, including the 19^th century mansion at 2000 Ninth Ave. that went up in towering flames the night of June 16, when firefighters were called to the 3,500-square-foot house at 10:46 p.m., said Phenix City Fire Chief Kris Kennedy.

“It presented challenges,” she said of the spacious structure that had overhead power lines firefighters had to maneuver around. They also had to deal with a collapsing roof, and with traffic congestion from spectators who came to watch, she said.

They had the fire under control by 1:41 a.m., but were not able to leave the scene until 2:20 p.m. June 17, she said.

Other fires

That was among a series of suspicious fires, dating back to Nov. 14, 2019, in which Swann has been charged, Kennedy said.

Police Lt. Greg Lahr said Swann was arrested July 8, after the fire at the occupied residence, which was on 14^th Court. Besides attempted murder, Swann is charged with first-degree arson in that case, Lahr said.

The suspect is charged with second-degree arson for fires at vacant buildings such as the Holland Mansion, Lahr said.

He said investigators still are probing other suspicious fires, but have not linked Swann to any others. “These are the only fires that have come to light fitting his M.O.,” Lahr said of Swann’s method of operation, which the lieutenant declined to describe.

Anyone with more information on the fires may call investigators at 334-448-2801, he said.

Besides the Holland Mansion blaze, Swann was charged with second-degree arson for these fires in unoccupied buildings, Lahr and Kennedy said:

• 611 S. Railroad St. on Nov. 14, 2019.
• 1908 10^th Ave. on Dec. 31, 2019.
• An outbuilding at 1004 N. Railroad St. on Jan. 1, 2020.
• 1701 11^th Ave. on Jan. 18.
• 605 Eighth St. on Jan. 22.
• 708 17^th St. on June 8.

Tim Chitwood

Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

706-571-8508

Tim Chitwood is from Seale, Alabama, and started as a police beat reporter with the Ledger-Enquirer in 1982. He since has covered Columbus’ serial killings and other homicides, following some from the scene of the crime to trial verdicts and ensuing appeals. He also has been a Ledger-Enquirer humor columnist since 1987. He’s a graduate of Auburn University, and started out working for the weekly Phenix Citizen in Phenix City, Ala.