The investigation remains open, and a reward is offered. The inferno leveled one building and nearly collapsed a second. One mostly complete building was saved, and two other framed buildings appeared undamaged. The 1993 collapse of Citi Equity left builders and suppliers unpaid. That means countless suspects for investigators to check out.
Officials have yet to find a man seen at the complex about five minutes before the fire was noticed.
Kennewick police Detective Ken Taylor is working the case with Yaden. Taylor described the man as white, early to mid-50s, gray hair, medium build and 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall. The complex was plagued with so many people that had a grudge against it. A large number of people had money invested in it that they couldn't get out. The current property owners have been fully cooperative, including opening up their financial books and taking polygraphs, Yaden said.