The Fire Folklore that Convicted Butch Martin

Episode 97

In this first episode of our two-part series, we go to Midland, Texas, where a fatal house fire claimed the lives of Marcia Pool and two children, Brady and Kristin. In the aftermath, investigators concluded the blaze was intentionally set — and they pointed to one man: Butch Martin.

The state built its theory around burn patterns, accelerant findings, eyewitness accounts, and interpretations of fire behavior that were considered reliable at the time, but would later come under scrutiny as fire folklore. Claims about liquid accelerants, pour patterns, and “arson indicators” formed the backbone of the prosecution’s case.

In Part 1, we cover:

• The timeline leading up to the fire

• How investigators interpreted burn patterns and damage

• The prosecution’s theory of how and why the fire was set

• Eyewitness testimony that shaped the narrative

• The role accelerant testing played in the case

This episode focuses on the fire itself and the state’s case. It sets the stage for a larger discussion about how outdated investigative practices — including the interpretation of burn patterns during flashover and the assumed meaning of “pour patterns” — contributed to arson convictions during this era.

Next week in Part 2, we take a critical look at the defense, the evolution of modern fire science, and the post-conviction efforts that challenged the original findings.

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Inner Sanctum Acknowledgments:
Eternal gratitude to our Inner Sanctum patrons, Melanie Curtis, Jenny Mercer and Laura Pisciotta, for helping us bring light to the stories others would rather leave in the ashes.

Listener discretion is advised.

Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated 

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Sources: 

• Texas Tech University — Fearless (S4 Episode 4)
  “Butch Martin and Allison Clayton | Part 1” (Published October 2, 2024)
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW3ASCLIu9s

• Texas Tech University — Fearless (S4 Episode 5)
  “Butch Martin and Allison Clayton | Part 2” (Published October 9, 2024)
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uH2sK2_10E

• Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng — Episode #339
  “Maggie Freleng with Garland Leon ‘Butch’ Martin” (Published March 6, 2023)
  https://open.spotify.com/episode/4aJGRTDibCyRj3pQ2WcjqV

• Hamilton, Mary Kate. “Midland man exonerated after 24 years in prison.” First Alert 7 (May 23, 2024).
  https://www.firstalert7.com/2024/05/23/midland-man-exonerated-after-23-years-prison/

• International Network of Innocent Arson Defendants (NIAD). “Butch Martin.”
  https://www.niad.info/Butch_Martin.html

• “Judge Recommends Vacating Conviction for Midland Man Serving Life in Prison.” NewsWest9 (November 2, 2022).
  https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/judge-recommends-vacating-conviction-for-midland-man/513-81762bbe-303c-4289-b63d-6ad0a042f099

• NewsWest9 (YouTube). “Friends of the late Marcia Pool recall alleged abuse from ‘Butch’ Martin.” (Posted May 23, 2022).
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPvq0AMbsl4

• “Beaumont Jury Finds Man Guilty of Pushing Painkillers.” Houston Chronicle (July 1, 2010).
  https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Beaumont-jury-finds-man-guilty-of-pushing-728398.php

• Ratemds.com. Physician Reviews for Dr. David Hobbit (reviews as recent as 2015).
  https://www.ratemds.com