Investigators believe law office fire was intentional, reward for information offered

Published 2:07 pm Friday, July 17, 2020

The State Fire Marshal is offering a potential monetary reward of up to $5,000 for information about the fire at the law office of Jim Gray. Arson dogs have indicated that the fire was set intentionally, said Picayune Fire Marshal Pat Weaver.

The Picayune Fire Department responded to the fire at approximately 3 a.m. Tuesday. Weaver is assisting the State Fire Marshall in the ongoing investigation of the fire. The arson dog indicated that it was an incendiary fire, meaning it was set intentionally.

Gray said he believed that the fire was set intentionally because Gray’s son is a person of interest in the disappearance of Willie Ray Jones, who went missing July 6. Gray said that people on social media were accusing him of hiding his son.

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Dustin and Erica Gray are persons of interest in the disappearance of Jones. The couple were taken into custody Wednesday in Pueblo County, Colorado for possession of stolen firearms.

Signs went up in front of the law office Friday asking anyone with information on the fire to contact the Mississippi Fire Marshall’s Office at 601-359-1061 or 1-888-648-0877. Anyone with information can also contact the Picayune Police Department.