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The domain Hollywood Tantric Massage is registered to Dorothee Burkhart. (KTLA-TV) |
- Sheriff's deputies detain Harry Burkhart, 24.
- SKETCH: Harry Burkhart in Court
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Photos: Dozens of Fires Deliberately Set in Hollywood Area
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- VIDEO: Mother of Hollywood Arson Suspect Requests To See Son - Dave Mecham reports
- VIDEO: Accused Arsonist Pleads Not Guilty to 100 Felonies - David Begnaud reports
- VIDEO: Mother of Arson Suspect Claims Nazi Persecution - Brandi Hitt reports
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LOS ANGELES, Calif. (KTLA) -- The mother of the man suspected of setting dozens of fires in Hollywood will be extradited back to her native Germany, a judge ruled on Thursday.
Dorothee Burkhart, 53, had been fighting extradition to Germany, where she faces fraud charges.
She was ordered into the custody of the U.S. Marshal, without bail, until she's turned over to authorities in Germany.
Burkhart was arrested back in December on an outstanding warrant from Germany.
According to court papers, she is wanted on 19 counts of fraud "committed on a commercial basis and as a member of a gang, and breach of trust."
She is accused of falsely claiming a $10,000 payment on breast augmentation surgery, and failing to return security deposits to renters.
Burkhart escaped from German custody by crawling out of a hospital window and fleeing Europe, her attorney said.
It's believed her arrest an imminent deportation may have triggered her son's alleged arson spree.
Harry Burkhart, 24, also a German national, has pleaded not guilty to 100 arson-related charges in connection with 49 blazes set in Hollywood between Dec. 30 and Jan. 2.
He faces 75 counts of arson, 19 counts of arson of an inhabited dwelling, two counts of arson of an uninhabited building, two counts of attempt to burn and two counts of possession of flammable materials.
He remains jailed on $7.5 million bail. If convicted of all charges, he faces more than 80 years in prison.
Most of the fires began in automobiles but often spread to homes in Hollywood, West Hollywood, Sherman Oaks and surrounding areas.
The fires did at least $3 million in damage, officials said.
The first fire was set the day after Burkhart showed up a hearing in his mother's case and went on an anti-American tirade, according to authorities.
Police also say that, just hours after the first fires erupted, Burkhart went to the German consulate looking for help getting his mother out of jail.
A guard allegedly saw the Burkhart put a fire-starting device on the floor, and he snapped a picture of it.
Investigators said the picture links Burkhart to many of the blazes, which were started with a common briquette used to start fires in a fireplace or grill.
They also said they have DNA evidence found at one of the fires that implicates Burkhart, as well as witnesses who placed him as near the scene of several fires.
Dorothee Burkhart has insisted that her son is innocent, and that he is mentally ill.
Dorothee Burkhart, 53, had been fighting extradition to Germany, where she faces fraud charges.
She was ordered into the custody of the U.S. Marshal, without bail, until she's turned over to authorities in Germany.
Burkhart was arrested back in December on an outstanding warrant from Germany.
According to court papers, she is wanted on 19 counts of fraud "committed on a commercial basis and as a member of a gang, and breach of trust."
She is accused of falsely claiming a $10,000 payment on breast augmentation surgery, and failing to return security deposits to renters.
Burkhart escaped from German custody by crawling out of a hospital window and fleeing Europe, her attorney said.
It's believed her arrest an imminent deportation may have triggered her son's alleged arson spree.
Harry Burkhart, 24, also a German national, has pleaded not guilty to 100 arson-related charges in connection with 49 blazes set in Hollywood between Dec. 30 and Jan. 2.
He faces 75 counts of arson, 19 counts of arson of an inhabited dwelling, two counts of arson of an uninhabited building, two counts of attempt to burn and two counts of possession of flammable materials.
He remains jailed on $7.5 million bail. If convicted of all charges, he faces more than 80 years in prison.
Most of the fires began in automobiles but often spread to homes in Hollywood, West Hollywood, Sherman Oaks and surrounding areas.
The fires did at least $3 million in damage, officials said.
The first fire was set the day after Burkhart showed up a hearing in his mother's case and went on an anti-American tirade, according to authorities.
Police also say that, just hours after the first fires erupted, Burkhart went to the German consulate looking for help getting his mother out of jail.
A guard allegedly saw the Burkhart put a fire-starting device on the floor, and he snapped a picture of it.
Investigators said the picture links Burkhart to many of the blazes, which were started with a common briquette used to start fires in a fireplace or grill.
They also said they have DNA evidence found at one of the fires that implicates Burkhart, as well as witnesses who placed him as near the scene of several fires.
Dorothee Burkhart has insisted that her son is innocent, and that he is mentally ill.
