Authorities Seeking Motive Behind Suspects Setting Multiple Weekend Fires

Four suspects, two men and two women, are in the Franklin County jail. (Photo courtesy KNDU-TV).

Saturday Franklin County Sheriffs arrested the four in connection with several grass cover and haystack fires in Northern Franklin County that occurred between Friday and Sunday.

36-year-old Arthur R. Johnson and 33-year-old Teresa Ferris of Othello and 36-year-old Nicole M. Monk and 24-year-old Eli J. Johnson of Eltopia were taken into custody in connection with the fires. Reports indicate one vehicle was also seized.

Authorities didn't say specifically how many fires were set, but there were multiple blazes. The investigation also has officials trying to determine if these suspect are connected to a similar string of fires set in the area in July 2013. No damage figures or estimates from this weekend's fires were released.

In a photo courtesy of KNDU-TV, our news partner, the suspects are pictured clockwise from top left, Eli Johnson, Farris, Monk and Arthur Johnson.