Man Indicted in Austell Hotel Fire

A suspect was indicted on arson charges Oct. 3 for an Austell hotel fire in 2021, Cobb Superior Court reports.

According to court documents, Anthony Quinn, of Ball Ground, Georgia, is facing one count of arson in the first degree for allegedly starting a fire in a hotel room at a Knights Inn in Austell.

On September 19, 2021, at approximately 7:14 p.m., Quinn checked into the Knights Inn located at 1595 Blair Bridge Rd. At approximately 3:10 a.m. September 20, surveillance footage captured Quinn entering Room 303 of the hotel.

Shortly after, surveillance captured him exiting the room, walking to a Ford F-150 truck in the parking lot and driving away. It was later determined by investigators that the vehicle was stolen.

One minute after leaving Room 303, smoke could be seen emerging from the hotel room. At approximately 3:35 a.m., Cobb County Fire was called to the hotel to extinguish the fire.

After putting out the fire, officials called investigators to the scene to determine the cause. According to the warrant, it was concluded by investigators that Quinn intentionally ignited available combustibles in the room and that his alleged actions directly endangered the lives of 16 others including one child who were in adjoining rooms.

After leaving the Knights Inn, it was later revealed to investigators that Quinn had a confrontation with his uncle in Winston, Georgia, where he allegedly threatened to set him on fire.

Quinn was apprehended by Douglas County Sheriff’s Office deputies for unrelated charges on I-20 that same morning at approximately 4:45 a.m.