Five people were killed in the fire, which stemmed from a mattress on fire in a breezeway, according to the San Marcos Fire Marshal’s Office.
SAN MARCOS, Texas — A Hays County grand jury has declined to indict Jacobe Ferguson in connection with the 2018 fire at the Iconic Village apartments in San Marcos that killed five people, Hays County Criminal District Attorney Kelly Higgins has announced.
The grand jury issued a “no bill,” meaning it did not find sufficient evidence to bring felony charges against Ferguson, who had been arrested in connection with the deadly fire. In Texas, a no bill indicates that the grand jury did not find probable cause to move forward with an indictment.
The panel met several times over a few months to review evidence related to the arson investigation. In its decision, the grand jury stated it “failed to find a bill of indictment against the accused” and encouraged law enforcement to continue the investigation.
What happened at Iconic Village?
The fire happened on July 20, 2018, at the apartment complex near Texas State University.
The case remained unsolved for some time until multiple agencies obtained an arrest warrant for Ferguson in July 2023. Documents charging Ferguson stated that the incident stemmed from a mattress on fire in a breezeway, connecting hm to the case.
Ferguson was placed in jail but was later released in September 2023 to give prosecutors more time to present the case. With the grand jury’s decision, Ferguson is released from bond and faces no current charges related to the fire.
Higgins said his office will continue to work with law enforcement to pursue the investigation.
“I want to thank the members of the Grand Jury for their time and attention to this matter. I also want to thank the families of the young people killed and injured in this tragic fire for their patience and understanding. We feel for their loss every day and we remain committed to bringing the arsonist to justice to provide closure to those who have lost so much. We take the Grand Jury’s encouragement to continue the investigation to heart and will continue to work with the task force to that end,” Higgins said.