SAN MARCOS, Texas — Recently, developments have emerged regarding the 2018 apartment fire in San Marcos, a city near Austin. A grand jury has opted not to indict Jacobe Ferguson, a man who had been arrested concerning the tragic blaze that resulted in the loss of five lives.
This decision came from a review conducted by the grand jury earlier this week, as announced by the Hays County District Attorney’s Office. Ferguson, age 31, had faced accusations related to arson causing death after the fire, which was determined by authorities to have been set deliberately on July 20, 2018. This incident occurred in a city known to host Texas State University, with a population of around 70,000.
Ferguson’s arrest in July 2023 marked five years since the conflagration took place. Following this week’s grand jury verdict, Ferguson, who had been out on bond, is now released from such legal constraints, according to the district attorney’s office.
In light of the grand jury’s verdict, Hays County District Attorney Kelly Higgins expressed that cooperation with law enforcement will persist as the investigation into the fire continues.
Representing Ferguson, Attorney Kristin Dow of the Neighborhood Defender Service expressed deep gratitude, noting the grand jury’s thorough review and its ultimate decision that no charges were justified.
At the time the fire broke out, Ferguson was a student at Texas State University. Among the devastated community, four victims were either current or former students of the university, highlighting the tragedy’s impact on the academic community.