Reward offered in Sacramento-area arson case where man was found dead in burned home

Federal investigators on Thursday announced a $5,000 reward in a Citrus Heights arson investigation in which a 61-year-old man was found dead inside a burned home.

The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was offering the reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for starting a fire a a home on the 7500 block of Oak Grove Avenue in Citrus Heights.

The fire was reported about 11:45 a.m. June 7 at the house just east of Auburn Boulevard. George Benson of Citrus Heights was found dead inside the home, according to Sacramento County Coroner records.

Benson’s name was included in a July 10 suspicious death investigation post on the Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers website, which also sought tips from the public.

Along with seeking information that leads to an arrest, the ATF San Francisco Field Division Office has asked the public to help identify a car that the Citrus Heights Police Department has labeled a “vehicle-of-interest” in the Oak Grove Avenue arson investigation.

Authorities described the car as a blue 2002 to 2006 Toyota Camry with five-spoke rims, no-tint windows and an oxidize roof. Investigators did not have any license plate information for the car, according to an ATF news release. Investigators released a photo of the car.

Oak Grove Avenue fire

Firefighters from the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District responded to the June 7 house fire, quickly extinguished the flames and found Benson’s body inside the burned five-bedroom home.

Citrus Heights police officers were called to the Oak Grove Avenue home to investigate Benson’s death. Police on Thursday confirmed Benson was the home’s sole occupant.

Significant flames and reports of explosions had occurred, according to radio dispatches reviewed by The Sacramento Bee.

Citrus Heights police Sgt. Eric Dias said it’s believed pressure from the house fire possibly led to windows bursting in the home.

“There’s no evidence to suggest to explosives were found inside the home,” Dias told The Bee.

He said Citrus Heights sought help from a federal program provided by ATF that offers $5,000 rewards in unsolved local arson investigations. The local police agency had already submitted details of the unsolved arson case in July to Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers, which limits its rewards to $1,000 for tips that lead to an arrest.

Dias said the police department hopes the increased reward will prompt someone to come forward that will provide a break in the investigation.

Investigators asked anyone with information relevant to this arson case or the vehicle-of-interest to call the ATF at 1-888-283-3473 or send an email to atftips@atf.gov.

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