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Two men recently were charged with arson in connection with the March 26, 2000, fire that destroyed Porthole Bar & Grill, Syracuse.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Randal L. Graddy, 44, LaGrange, and Jeffrey A. Crisci, 35, Shipshewana, each helped set fire to the building after they allegedly were offered $10,000 by the restaurant owner, Cornelius "Neil" Oswald.
Fire investigators suspected the fire was an arson from the beginning and it was ruled incendiary after burn patterns were found. The fire was a total loss, resulting in more than $250,000 in damages.
According to reports, police discovered in interviews that Graddy and Crisci told others they had been offered money to burn the business. Both men also reportedly said Oswald said he would pay them with money from the insurance company and have to date received no payment.
Police also received information that Oswald may have removed stock and equipment from the restaurant the day it burned and that the three men were seen together at a cookout the night of the fire.
Oswald has not been charged with a crime and the prosecutor's office said his relation to the matter is under investigation. He is involved in a lawsuit with the restaurant's insurance company regarding disbursement of insurance money.
