“The recent news that Pang will be released from prison brings back painful memories for the department and the community,” Chief Harold Scoggins said in a statement. Kenny Stuart, president of the Seattle Firefighters’ union, said he and other firefighters will “never forget the service and sacrifice of these men.”
Cloyd Steiger, who was part of the team of Seattle police detectives assigned to investigate the arson deaths, and King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg, who played a role in the criminal prosecution, said Pang is getting an unfair break.
“Martin Pang should have spent the rest of his life in prison,” Steiger said.
Steiger said Pang became their lead suspect soon after the fire, but getting him in handcuffs wasn’t easy. Pang fled to Brazil, where extradition treaties didn’t exist, Steiger said.