Serial Arsonist Behind Bars
By: Kristen Kennedy
Updated: February 23, 2009
A fomer serial arsonist is in custody Friday night after setting fire to a field in Tahoka. Jerry Wayne Adams was arrested Friday after an officer saw him light a field on fire. Garett Nelson with the Fire Marshal's Office says Adams drove from Lubbock to Tahoka and started a fire on the south end of town right off of the Tahoka highway. Back in 1997, Adams confessed to starting more than 200 fires in Lubbock, and several others in Hale County. The 67 year-old was under a 10-year probated sentence for the 1997 fires, and had to pay more than $430,000 in fines. "We have an officer that witnessed the crime take place and we made the arrest here and we'll be working with Tahoka authorities," says Nelson.
Authorities have had Adams under survelliance for some time now. They were already investigating several recent fires that fit Adam's profile of arson.
