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Rancher's Restaurant Arson Suspect Remains In Hillsborough
Robert Lee Marcum, 23
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Published: June 26, 2008
An arson suspect who State Fire Marshal investigators say was badly burned at the Rancher's Restaurant fire remained in the Falkenburg Road Jail in Hillsborough County on Thursday, awaiting extradition to Highlands County.
Rancher's Restaurant was located at 15765 State Road 70 E., about a quarter mile from the Okeechobee County border. The 40-foot wide by 120-foot long structure was destroyed and the damage was estimated at $178,000, according to the State Fire Marshal's Office.
During the early morning of June 22, the night of the fire, someone reported seeing a motorcycle leaving the scene. There were two witnesses listed in a Highlands County Sheriff's Office report.
Robert Lee Marcum, 23, of Okeechobee, was stopped on his motorcycle by an Okeechobee County Sheriff's Deputy. The deputy tried to stop Marcum, according to Sam Venzeio, public information officer with he State Fire Marshal's Office.
Marcum didn't stop the motorcycle until he got to the parking lot of Raulerson Hospital in Okeechobee. Venzeio said, when the deputy took Marcum into custody.
He was transported by ground to Tampa General Hospital's burn unit and was arrested Tuesday, at his release from the hospital.
Marcum was charged with a second-degree arson and occupied burglary. Both charges are second-degree felonies. He was being held without bond.
"We don't know his motivation," Ball said on Monday. "The suspect declined an interview by authorities."
A Highlands County Sheriff's Office incident report stated that the fire began inside the structure.
Firefighters from Okeechobee County, Lorida Volunteer Fire Department and the Seminole Indian Tribe Fire Department fought the blaze, which was put out by 5 a.m. on Sunday.
The restaurant was owned by Melissa Serrano, 23, of Okeechobee, who was contacted and later arrived at the scene. The building was owned by Gerald Campbell.
The Florida Advisory Committee on Arson Prevention was seeking information about the fire. Anyone with information is asked to call 1-877-662-7766 or call the State Fire Marshal's Office at 850-413-3603.
Joe Seelig can be contacted at jseelig@highlandstoday.com
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