WHITE CREEK, NY -- State Police are looking for a suspect after a suspicious fire killed three family members in rural upstate New York.
Troopers issued an Amber Alert Wednesday after an early morning house fire in White Creek. Police say they are looking for former parolee Matthew Slocum, who is said to be traveling in a black 2003 Ford Mustang with New York license plates DED 1769. If you see this vehicle, you are asked to call 911, State Police, or the Washington County Sheriff's Office at 518-747-4623.
The victims of the fire included Dan Harrington, a deputy highway superintendent, and Harrington's wife, Lisa, town Supervisor Bob Shay said. Dan Harrington's son also died in the 4:00 a.m. fire 35 miles northeast of Albany, the Glens Falls Post-Star reported.
Authorities said Lisa Harrington's son Matthew Slocum left the scene in the Mustang with his girlfriend Loretta Colegrove and their four-month-old son, Raymond Slocum. Police are searching for Matthew Slocum, who state authorities said was convicted of grand larceny in Cambridge in 2006, WNYT-TV reported. Slocum went to prison in 2006 for breaking into a house and stealing cash, a New York prison spokesman said. He was released but returned to custody twice for violations before his parole expired in December 2009.
Police say Slocumb may be armed and holding his son and girlfriend against their will. He is described as about six feet tall and near 200 pounds, with swastika tattoos on his arms. He was seen wearing a black T-shirt with a skull and cross bones on it. Colegrove was reportedly last seen wearing a light blue tank top, blue denim shorts, and flip-flops.
Authorities have issued the Amber Alert in New York, Massachussetts, and New Hampshire to get out word about the child's disappearance.
Guns known to be in the home couldn't be accounted for, and police were asking neighbors whether they heard shots before the fire.
On Wednesday afternoon, emergency crews remained on the scene of the charred remains of the house, set back from a remote country road on heavily wooded property.
Police have not released any information about the cause of the fire.
Have you seen the car or suspect in this case? is an Ambert Alert the best way to get the word out about this sort of incident? Leave a comment below and let us know what you think.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
