This is a copy of the missing Scottie LeCompte’s driver’s license, with his date of birth and driver’s license number redacted.
An Idabel man disappeared after his home caught fire and was destroyed April 1.
But firemen say the entire situation is very strange, because while arson is suspected, it does not appear that the man burned down his own house.
The fire started just after 5 a.m. on April 1 at 264 Cats Eye Loop in the Brown Addition.
Fireman Kurt Stevenson said he was on the third truck that arrived. Because there are no fire hydrants in that area, all the water had to be shuttled in.
But the house went up fast, and by the time the third truck arrived, it was gone.
Stevenson spoke to the neighbor who reported the fire to 911. “He was adamant that something wasn’t right,” Stevenson said. “There were red flags everywhere… People don’t burn their house and vanish.”
Firemen noticed the man’s personal belongings appeared to be in the house, including his guns and ammo.
He didn’t have any insurance on the house.
Plus, Stevenson said the man had a huge garden, and it appeared he was preparing to plant about 100 tomato plants.
No way a guy about to do that much planting would burn his own place down and flee, Stevenson thought, so he began to worry the man’s body might be in the rubble.
But no body was found.
Stevenson was concerned about the possibility of foul play, so he contacted the sheriff’s office. Officers Bruce Johnson and Blake Bennett arrived to investigate.
The state fire marshal’s office was also contacted, and on first look, it appeared the fire had two points of origin, a conclusion that leads to the belief it might have been arson.
The home’s occupant was Scottie LeCompte, and it was his employer a few days later who finally filed a missing person report because he was worried about LeCompte.
His employer indicated he is a very reliable person who has shown up for work every day for three years and never been late.
Johnson obtained a phone number for LeCompte, but the call went straight to voicemail. Several others who called had the same result.
Johnson contacted Captain Richard Williamson, and because of possibly urgent circumstances, asked that he do a ping on the number. The phone number was pinging in the Waxahachie, Texas area.
This is all that remains of a home on Cat’s Eye Loop in the Brown Addition, which was destroyed on April 1. The man who live there worked at his job the day before, but hasn’t been seen since the day of the fire. (Staff photo)
Johnson put out a BOLO (be on the lookout) for LeCompte’s white 2005 white Dodge Dakota pickup with license plate BOZ-118.
Williamson later received a notification that LeCompte’s phone had pinged at a Buccee’s in Temple, Texas, which is south of Waxahachie on I-35.
Stevenson said he has been calling LeCompte’s number for a week now, and every call goes straight to voice mail.
“I’m not so sure he’s not dead,” the
firefighter said.
Anyone who has any information helpful to this case is asked to contact the sheriff’s office.
