After a two month investigation into the Jefferson Pizza Ranch fire, a suspect has been charged.
According to the Greene County Sheriff’s office, 53 year-old Robert Duane Schultz Jr., owner of the restaurant, is charged with a Class B Felony for first degree arson, a Class C Felony for first degree criminal mischief and a Class D Felony for insurance fraud. The investigation led to probable cause in Schultz being charged.
The alleged incident occurred just after midnight on January 27th. The Jefferson Fire and Police departments determined that there were multiple points of origin throughout the restaurant that led them to believe the fire was intentionally set.
Schultz was initially interviewed that same day. Reports show that Schultz claimed to have left the restaurant and locked the door behind him around 10:15pm on January 26th. He then says he arrived at his home in Ankeny around 11:15pm and after going to bed was awakened by a phone call from Greene County Dispatch about the fire, which he allegedly claimed he had no knowledge of.
Schultz also claimed that the alarm and security camera system were working properly before the incident and after checking with the alarm company, the system stopped working a couple weeks prior to the fire. Records also show that Schultz was told that the system wasn’t working and he didn’t do anything to fix the problem, but that he had no valid response when questioned about why he didn’t fix it. Alliant Energy also reported being called to H&R Block, which shares a wall with Pizza Ranch on the south side, about the smell of gasoline. When Alliant Energy spoke to Schultz about the alleged smell, he told them he accidentally spilled gasoline in the main dining area. Schultz told investigators that one of his employees ran out of gas the day prior to the smell being reported and as a joke, he brought in a two-gallon plastic gas can in and as he was walking through the dining area, his hand that was holding the gas can hit a chair, causing him to drop it and the gas to fall out. The police department also received several calls about the restaurant smelling like gasoline and that it got so bad, people went home and showered.
Records show Schultz did not have a valid response when questioned about how two-gallons of gasoline would have spilled out in a matter of seconds when he says he picked it up right away.
A search warrant also obtained a text message conversation between Schultz and another individual that authorities are still looking into.
Court records show Schultz is the only one facing the three felony charges, though the investigation is ongoing and charges against additional suspects are pending.
The Greene County Sheriff’s office, Jefferson Fire and Police departments and the State Fire Marshal’s office are working together in the investigation.
Raccoon Valley Radio will bring you more information as it becomes official.