Former Gallery Furniture employee charged with arson

Accused of setting May 21 warehouse fire

Jay McIntosh -- Furniture Today, July 28, 2009

HOUSTON — Robert Carroll Gillham, a former Gallery Furniture employee who had been terminated from his job, has been charged with first-degree felony arson in the fire that destroyed the retailer's warehouse here May 21.

At a press conference here Tuesday, officials from the Houston Fire Department and the Houston office of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said Gillham was in custody in nearby Montgomery County on an unrelated burglary charge.

The Houston Chronicle, quoting court documents, reported that Gillham had told several people he was angry with McIngvale and wanted to burn the store.

Gallery owner Jim McIngvale also spoke at the press conference, again thanking firefighters for their "miraculous" effort in saving the retail showroom adjacent to the warehouse. About 50% of the showroom, which suffered water damage, reopened on July 4 and the remainder is expected to reopen Labor Day weekend.

Neither McIngvale nor the officials would comment on how long Gillham, 66, had worked at the store or say why he was terminated.

McIngvale said it was "difficult" knowing that the suspect was a former employee. But he said the current Gallery employees are happy and relieved that an arrest has been made.

"It lifted a lot of tension off everybody because we've had this cloud hanging over us for two months now," he said. He also praised investigators for their work in making the arrest.

Rob Elder, special agent in charge of the Houston ATF bureau, said investigators from his office and the Houston Fire Department had conducted some 150 interviews in the case. He said McIngvale and his employees were very open with the investigators.

"This man, his wife and this company have been nothing but cooperative," said Elder.

Officials have estimated damage from the fire at between $15 million and $20 million.