Stouffer’s Inn Fire – Cold Case Resource
The Stouffer’s Inn Fire
December 4, 1980 • Purchase, New York
An unsolved murder that claimed 26 lives.
One suspect. Twenty-six murder convictions overturned by one judge.
No further investigation. No other suspects sought.
📺 Video Overview of the Crime
OverviewTimelineEvidenceMedia CoverageContact
Timeline of Events
December 4, 1980 – 10:17 AM: Fire alarm activated at Stouffer’s Inn conference level.
10:18–10:25 AM: Heavy smoke fills the corridor; many trapped in the conference rooms.
10:35 AM: Firefighters arrive; blaze declared under control approximately 45 minutes later.
December 5, 1980: Investigators begin searching for the origin and cause of the fire.
1981–1984: Luis Marin, an illegal alien from Guatemala, is arrested and convicted by a jury of arson and twenty-six counts of second-degree murder. Judge Joseph Martin overturns the conviction and sets Marin free. The New York State Court of Appeals upholds Judge Martin’s decision.
Present Day: The fire remains unsolved. Further investigation has never been done.
vidence and Investigations
- Eyewitness accounts describing rapid flashover and unusual smoke patterns.
- Reports of potential accelerant residue found in parts of the building.
- Conflicting expert testimony during grand jury proceedings.
- FBI and ATF involvement in early 1980s investigative phases.
View NFPA report by James R. Bell (PDF)
NFPA Fire Investigator’s Report for Stouffer’s Inn of Westchester, Harrison NY, December 4th 1980 (PDF)
Media Coverage & Archives
Selected coverage and analysis of the Stouffer’s Inn fire:
- New York Times – Original 1980 Article
- The Journal News (Lohud) – Retrospective Coverage
- Wikipedia Summary
Contact us via e-mail at info@stouffersinnfire.com