Serial Arsonist Justin Caruso – Fires, Fatalities & the Hero Syndrome

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This week on Profiler Africa, Gérard Labuschagne and Paul Viv are joined by one of the world’s foremost arson investigators: Ed Nordskog, retired LA Sheriff’s Arson/Bomb detective and international fire forensics expert.
Together they unpack the chilling case of Justin Caruso, a serial arsonist whose crimes spanned three US states. Caruso didn’t just set fires — he staged them, inserted himself into investigations, and cultivated the image of a hero.

Nordskog, who personally analysed the Caruso case, brings the inside story: how a string of suspicious blazes — from Mesa, Arizona, to Austin, Texas, to Yarmouth, Massachusetts — revealed a disturbing pattern. One blaze killed a 74-year-old man; another nearly claimed a second elderly victim.
Gérard breaks down the psychology: why some offenders are drawn to fire, how “Hero Syndrome” drives repeat behaviour, and what this case teaches us about investigative psychology.
In this episode:
🔥 The Fatal Fire in Mesa — the turning point that exposed Caruso’s deadly pattern.
🔥 Multi-State MO — how investigators connected fires across Arizona, Texas, and Massachusetts.
🔥 Hero Syndrome — why some arsonists crave recognition as “rescuers.”
🔥 Forensic Profiling — Gérard on what makes fire-setters unique among offenders.
🔥 Case of the Year — how the Caruso prosecution earned global recognition from the IAAI.

🎧 Also available on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts
📩 Questions, comments, or sponsorships: [email protected]
🌍 Website: PLOTSHIFT.CO.ZA

More on guest Ed Nordskog here: www.arsonprofiler.com

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