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Jilted boyfriend accused of twice burning ex-girlfriend's house
| Saturday, Oct 11 2008 12:00 PM
Last Updated: Monday, Oct 13 2008 1:01 PM
Fires two days apart at the same south Bakersfield home were both followed by the same thing — a threatening letter with naked pictures of the female homeowner.
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Andrew Scott Brus is accused of starting two fires over the summer at his ex-girlfriend’s home at 2901 Dell Ave. because she started dating someone after they broke up, according to an arrest report. He is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 26.
Brus, 29, allegedly sent naked pictures of the victim, Crystal Leann Wooten, to her boyfriend’s family after the fires raged at the house, a search warrant said.
Some of the photos were captioned with “burn, (expletive deleted,) burn.”
The case is an “ugly, sordid situation,” said Battalion Chief Garth Milam with the Bakersfield Fire Department.
Milam said the lead investigator on the case, BFD Capt. Danny Brown, would not comment about the investigation.
The motives for arson fall into three categories: to make a profit from the fire, to hurt or kill someone, and out of spite, Milam said.
“Spite can come from a failed marriage or a love affair,” he said. “This happens quite often. It makes sense because fire is so destructive and final.”
THE RELATIONSHIP GOES WRONG
Wooten and Brus dated for nine years until they broke up in 2006, according to the search warrant. She told an investigator she ended the relationship because of Brus’ drug use.
Wooten has moved from Bakersfield, according to her boyfriend’s mother. She could not be reached for comment.
After their relationship ended, Brus made harassing phone calls and text messages and bothered her at work, court documents said.
“He (Brus) asked me to go to dinner with him 30 times,” Wooten said about when she went to Brus’ home.
Brus could not be reached for comment.
Wooten said Brus pointed a gun at her several times. He also threatened to kill himself. Brus also pointed a shotgun at Wooten’s new boyfriend, Brandon Scott Downs, court documents said.
THE BLAZE AND THE NOTES
In the early morning of May 28, a fire erupted near the back patio of Wooten’s house. She was not at home at the time.
Downs was sleeping in a bedroom when the house caught on fire. He escaped without injury.
The blaze caused $100,000 in damage, firefighters said.
“She (Wooten) lost everything,” said Lisa Green, Downs’ mother.
That same day, Green received a letter with cell phone pictures of Wooten naked, including one with her and porn star Ron Jeremy, according to court documents.
“Your dear son, I should have shot him when I had the chance, when I had my gun to his head,” the letter said. “Next time I will.”
Two days after the fire, another blaze ravaged Wooten’s home, making it unlivable. Both fires are believed to have been caused by using an ignitable liquid.
Another letter with naked pictures of Wooten were delivered that day to Downs’ stepfather.
“Ya I missed a chance right when I had my gun to his head,” the letter said. “He can have the cheatin (expletive deleted) and I’ll get anotha chance at him NEXT TIME.”
THE EVIDENCE
Wooten and Downs said they believed Brus was responsible for the fires and other evidence supported that accusation.
A vehicle matching the truck that Brus drives was seen leaving Wooten’s street when the first fire burned the home, according to a surveillance video taken at a nearby business.
A search warrant executed at Brus’ home revealed a disc on a computer that showed how to make bombs and trigger devices, court documents said.
“I feel bad for him (Brus) that he got in this state,” Green said. “I believe it’s the drugs.”
About three weeks after the fires, city arson units arrested Brus.
Brus has been charged with attempted murder and two counts of arson, according to Kern County Superior Court records.