Burnsville intruders had torches and a deadly plan

The strangers who entered Paul Traub's Burnsville townhouse through an open garage door flipped off circuit breakers for the lights, removed a battery from a smoke detector, and set eight fires after they stabbed him.

That testimony came from a fire investigator Tuesday during the Dakota County trial of Irvin S. Cook, 20, on charges of attempted first-degree murder, arson, burglary and auto theft.

The attack two years ago involved three home invaders stealing items from Traub, 52, and making comments such as, "I'm Jesus Christ, and you're going to die tonight," Traub testified Tuesday.

Points of contention in the trial include Traub's initial belief that the attackers were black, though Cook is of American Indian descent. On Monday Traub identified Cook as one of the men who attacked him two years earlier.

Ronald Rahman, a deputy state fire marshal, testified that the assailants used a can of vegetable-oil spray and a lighter to create a makeshift blowtorch to set some of the fires.

When the assailants finally left in his car, Traub, 52, struggled to his feet, having been knifed 21 times and doused with mouthwash and flammable liquids. Covered in blood, he made his way through a wall of fire to escape and get help.

Rahman said that carbon monoxide from the fire could have killed Traub, or he could have died from poisonous gas released as carpeting, a bed and other materials went up in flames. Vapors from those materials were on the verge of igniting and causing a "flashover" ball of fire that fills a room in seconds, he told a jury.

That's because fire was eating through the ceiling of the master bedroom, where three of the fires had been set, Rahman said, and was ready to break through to a common attic area, where vents would have fueled its spread to the roof and other units.

Investigators later found two circuit breakers that had been intentionally flipped., The cover and battery had also been removed from a smoke detector in a hallway outside the master bedroom, where Traub had been attacked. Rahman said he and others found a new 9-volt battery up the road from the house.

Investigators had walked that way because police had learned that a rolled-over vehicle had been found. It was later determined that Cook and at least one other man had rolled that vehicle, and then walked up to Traub's townhouse. Traub testified that he had forgotten to shut his overhead garage door that night -- May 11, 2008.

Another defendant, Shaquen P. Whitfield, 21, of Prior Lake, pleaded guilty last June to attempted first-degree murder, first-degree arson and first-degree burglary. He is to be sentenced next month.

Also charged is Lance Wilkins, 22, of Prior Lake. He and Cook face the identical charges to which Whitfield pleaded, as well as auto theft. That charge was dismissed against Whitfield as part of his plea agreement.