10-year Louisville arson investigation ends after suspect in deadly 2015 fire found dead

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A decade-long arson investigation by the Louisville Fire Department has come to a close.

Louisville Fire Department spokesperson Donovan Sims said Thursday the arson case into the deadly July 2015 fire in the city's Old Louisville neighborhood has come to a close as they have identified a suspect. Sims said, however, that suspect, Michael Robertson, died in 2023.

On July 2, 2015, Louisville Fire was called to 1133 S. 2nd Street on a report of a house fire with people trapped inside and jumping from the upper floors, Sims said. When firefighters arrived to the scene, they found the building fully engulfed with flames.

Firefighters began rescuing and locating victims resulting in a firefighter being trapped after a stairwell collapsed. Sims said the firefighter was rescued by other firefighters and only suffered minor injuries.

However, three people died from smoke inhalation, and two people, who jumped from the 3-story home, had serious physical injuries.

It was determined the cause of the fire was incendiary — someone intentionally set the fire, Sims said. After the incident, a suspect, Robertson, was identified from surveillance video, but police had no luck in finding them.

A break in the case came in October 2022 from a witness came forward with information about Robertson. Sims said from then until now, the Louisville Metro Arson Bureau and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives have been investigating the arson.

If Robertson was still alive, he would have been charged with arson, murder and other related charges, Sims said.

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