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Glenwood – An investigation into a suspicious fire in 2009 culminated yesterday with the arrest of Richard Burgdoerfer, age 44, on multiple felony charges. The investigation began back in 2009 when there was a suspicious fire in an outbuilding at the home where Burgdoerfer then lived in northern Fayette County. New information recently surfaced that resulted in an arrest warrant for Burgdoerfer for that suspicious fire.

While officers were at the home where Burgdoerfer now lives at 2597 South CR 800 East in Rush County last Thursday serving a search warrant, they discovered a fully automatic machine gun, body armor and bomb making materials. Burgdoerfer was not home when officers went to his house last Thursday, as he was in California. He arrived back yesterday and turned himself in for the original warrant for Conspiracy to Commit Arson Class “B” Felony; Conspiracy to Commit Arson for Hire Class “B” Felony and Conspiracy to Commit Arson with the Intent to Defraud, Class “C” Felony.

Today Burgdoerfer was charged with Possession of Bomb Making Materials or an Explosive Device, Class “C” Felony; Possession of a Machine Gun, Class “C” Felony; Possession of Body Armor while committing a Felony, Class “D” Felony; Possession of Sawed of Shotgun Class “D” Felony; Possession of Marijuana over 30 grams, Class “D” Felony and Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Class “D” Felony.

Investigators say it is unclear why Burgdoerfer had the bomb making materials and machine gun, but they don’t believe it was related to any type of terrorist or public threat. Indiana State Police Investigators were assisted in the search warrant of Burgdoerfer’s residence last Thursday by the US Department of Justice agents from Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as well as State Police Explosive Ordinance Disposal investigators.

This is all the information to be released at this time. Any inquiries about the arson case need to be made to the Fayette County Prosecutor’s Office. All questions regarding the other charges need to be referred to the Rush County Prosecutor’s Office.
All Suspects Are Presumed Innocent Until Proven Guilty in a Court of Law