Sheriff Kevin J. McConville reports the arrest of a Danbury, CT, man for a series of arson fires in the Town of Southeast.
On November 27, 2022, Deputies responded to Old Milltown Rd for a brush fire. Brewster Fire Department members advised the deputies that over the past year, they have responded to an unusual number of similar fires in the area. Sheriff’s Office Investigators were notified, and an investigation was begun to determine if these fires were intentionally set. With the assistance of a Dutchess County Sheriff arson detection K9, it was determined that an accelerant was used at some of the fires. Investigators consulted Putnam County 911 dispatchers to gather a list of the brush fire calls on that road and developed a suspect. Investigators then began surveillance of the area and, on December 6th, located the suspect on Old Milltown Road. After interviewing the suspect, 71-year-old Frederick Delfay, he confessed to setting the fires.
He was arrested and charged with five counts of Arson in the 5th degree, a class A misdemeanor. He was processed and released with an appearance ticket returnable in the Town of Southeast Court.
